New AWS users get a Studio workspace in 20 seconds and $100 credits

Amazon Web Services (AWS) changed the sign-up for its AI tool Amazon SageMaker AI. A new customer makes an account in 2 or 3 steps. The tool then makes a Studio workspace in about 20 seconds. The customer gets $100 in credits. Before, a new user had to give an email, a phone number and payment data, and select a support plan.

How it works

The customer signs up with a Google, GitHub, Apple or Amazon account, or with an email. The workspace has the permissions for training and deployment. A model that the customer selects on Hugging Face opens in the deployment page, set for use.

The numbers

• Sign-up has 2 or 3 steps.
• Time to a workspace is about 20 seconds. Before, it was 2 minutes.
• The credits end after 6 months or when used up.
• A customer can get $100 more.

AWS gave no data on the number of new users.

What is not known

The new sign-up is only for new AWS accounts. Customers that have an account see no change. AWS does not tell which customers must give a credit card. When the credits end, use stops until the customer adds payment data.

Insight: AWS and rivals compete to be the first tool where developers work

AWS removed the sign-up barrier for model builders. Microsoft also opened its agent browser tool to all users this month. This looks like a contest to be the first tool where a developer works, because free credits can keep the work there. The credits end after 6 months. Write down the cost before you add more work.