Amazon launches internal AI chatbot Cedric to boost productivity

Amazon has unveiled a new artificial intelligence chatbot named “Cedric,” intended specifically for internal use within the company. The chatbot represents a strategic effort by Amazon to enhance productivity and job satisfaction among its workforce by providing a secure, in-house AI tool. The development and introduction of Cedric are part of Amazon’s broader initiative to bolster its capabilities in AI technology while maintaining stringent security protocols.

The information about Cedric emerged from an internal document, which outlined the chatbot as a “general-purpose AI” designed to assist employees with various tasks. These include answering questions, summarising documents, and facilitating brainstorming sessions. The launch of Cedric signifies Amazon’s cautious stance towards third-party AI applications such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, from which it has distanced itself due to possible security risks. Earlier this year, Amazon instituted guidelines to prohibit the use of external AI tools for business applications, underlining its focus on in-house solutions.

Cedric has been crafted using Amazon’s Bedrock AI platform alongside the technological prowess of Anthropic’s Claude large language model. A notable feature of Cedric’s design is its emphasis on security, enabling it to manage highly confidential data safely. The chat history generated by Cedric is stored within an encrypted database, further enhancing data protection.

While Cedric is meant for tasks like generating memos, transforming meeting notes into emails, and sparking creative ideas, Amazon has delineated its application scope by recommending the use of Amazon Q for tasks such as code generation. This indicates a division of labour between different AI tools within the company to maximise efficiency and security.

The introduction of Cedric complements Amazon’s existing efforts to expand its internal AI capabilities. Earlier developments included work on another AI chatbot, referred to as Metis, which is intended to rival the functionalities of ChatGPT by providing real-time information and automating processes through retrieval-augmented generation.

Moreover, Amazon has embarked on applying AI advancements to optimise its financial operations. By integrating generative AI into its finance departments, the company aims to facilitate complex analytical tasks that surpass traditional rule-based and machine learning techniques.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has previously underscored the significance of the company’s generative AI assistant, Amazon Q, which reportedly has saved an amount of work equivalent to 4,500 developer-years. Jassy highlighted the transformative impact of such AI tools in streamlining operations and improving efficiency within the company.

As of now, Amazon has not issued any official response to the media’s inquiries regarding the details and broader implications of Cedric’s introduction. This development is being closely watched as part of Amazon’s ongoing efforts to lead in AI technology while prioritising internal security and efficiency.

Source: Noah Wire Services