AWS connects Machine Learning Scientists and Customers

Customers of Amazon Web Services (AWS), who are looking to start a machine-learning project for the first, can now access AWS’ machine learning experts to guide them.
The company launched the Amazon ML Solutions Lab earlier this month. This program allows AWS customers to receive face-to–face project guidance and training from AWS’ machine learning scientists.
Vinayak Agarwal (senior product manager at AWS Deep Learning), said that the Amazon ML Solutions Lab engagements will guide you through the entire process of implementing machine-learning.
According to Agarwal there are three components to each engagement under the Amazon ML Solutions Lab. AWS scientists will first work with customers to identify areas of their business that could benefit from machine learning.
To facilitate these opportunities, the scientists will assist the customer in developing prototypes of machine-learning models tailored to their business data. These models can be as diverse as the AWS scientists’ expertise areas, which include fulfillment and logistics, personalization, recommendation, fraud prevention and transactional risk management, security and forecasting, capacity planning and text and mobile analytics, as well as supply chain optimization.
Education is the third component. AWS scientists will provide formal machine-learning training through workshops, bootcamps, and tutorials.
The program emphasizes the importance of face to face interactions between customers, AWS scientists, and their customers. Customers can choose to work with AWS scientists at the company’s Seattle headquarters or to host AWS scientists in their offices. A weekly meeting is held to review the progress of the machine learning project.
According to this FAQ, a typical engagement takes between three and six months. AWS offers an “Express” version that lasts for four to five weeks, which is available for customers who have a greater understanding of machine learning. This accelerated program includes a one-week educational bootcamp on the AWS campus, followed “intensive problem-solving” and machine learning model building, as Agarwal described it.
The Amazon ML Solutions Lab is available worldwide, but the Express program is only available in the United States. You can find more information about the program here.