Azure OpenAI

Context
On this page, we discuss a specific partner journey (Azure OpenAI). If you are new to partner journeys or just want/need more context, then please take a look at the typical partner journey first.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been evolving at an unprecedented pace in recent years, and the results are nothing short of exciting. AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we live and work, and it’s already doing so in many ways. From self-driving cars to virtual assistants, AI is changing the way we interact with technology and each other.

The business opportunities presented by AI are equally exciting. Companies that can harness the power of AI are poised to gain a significant competitive advantage. AI can help businesses automate routine tasks, improve customer service, and even develop new products and services. The possibilities are endless, and the potential for growth is enormous.

1. Envisioning

From zero to hero

Start here

  1. Create an azure subscription (should already be in order)
  2. Apply for access to the Azure OpenAI Service: https://aka.ms/oai/access
  3. Attend our OpenAI Envisioning sessions for Partners
  4. Get Familiarized with the product content: Azure OpenAI Page

Basic

  1. Attend our envisioning sessions and Business briefings
  2. Compare Azure OpenAI & OpenAI
  3. Explore key Responsible AI guidelines and principles: https://aka.ms/rai
  4. Explore a series of published European customer stories

Advanced

  1. How-to guides: Generate embeddings and Fine-tuning
  2. Complete the embeddings and document search tutorial.
  3. How your/your customer data is processed, used and stored in Azure OpenAI: Data, privacy and security
  4. Review the Enterprise Data with ChatGPT tech blog, and work through the accompanying GitHub repository.
  5. Become familiar with the APIs
  6. Introducing GPT-4 in Azure OpenAI Service
    1. Read more on the partner blog here
  7. Which models are available and where: https://aka.ms/openai-models
Solution Accelerators

A great way to showcase the power of Azure OpenAI is to use it in combination with other Azure services. We have created a set of solution accelerators that will help you get started with Azure OpenAI in no-time. The fact that you not only can set up these accelerator yourself, but also adapt them to your needs/context, is very powerful when talking to your customers!

  1. GPT Fundamentals, Use Cases and Sample Solutions Evolving rapidly!!
  2. Azure OpenAI Accelerators and Demo Assets (https://aka.ms/OpenAIDemos) Evolving rapidly!!
  3. Responsible AI Accelerator: This repo demonstrates how you can use the Azure Machine Learning Responsible AI dashboard to evaluate and debug your machine learning models, to help reduce error and fairness issues in your model predictions and data driven decisions. It describes two different demonstration implementations of the dashboard, covering a financial services scenario and a health care scenario.
  4. Build your own copilot ⬅️ A great resource if you want to start building your own copilot
  5. Azure OpenAI Design Patterns

2. Certification & Specializations

Certifications

Currently, there are no specific certifications for Azure OpenAI. However, there are some certifications that are related to Azure OpenAI and that can help you in your journey:

ProfileCertificationLink
All (AI) foundationalAI-900 (Azure AI Fundamentals)https://aka.ms/AI-900
AI EngineerAI-102 (Azure AI Engineer Associate)link to MSLearn page

Since AI touches a lot of other domains (such as Data, App Dev, etc.), it is recommended to also check out the certifications below as they will also be relevant to your journey:

ProfileCertificationLink
All ProfilesAZ-900 Azure Fundamentalshttps://aka.ms/AZ-900
All (App Dev) ProfilesAZ-204 (Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure)https://aka.ms/AZ-204
All (Data) profilesDP-900 (Azure Data Fundamentals)https://aka.ms/DP-900

➡️ Also check the Technical Enablement section below for more resources. (we will add more resources as they become available)

Getting ready for the certification exam
If you are preparing to study for an exam and want to find out whether you are ready, then it might be interesting to know that Microsoft now has made practice exams available for a series of exams. More info can be found here

Specializations

When you, as a partner have attained the Solution partner designation in the “Data&AI” solution area, then you can differentiate yourself by achieving any of the eligible specializations.

For more information, please look at the following landing pages: arrow_right: Earn an advanced specialization to showcase your validated capabilities (Microsoft Docs)

Since AI touches a lot of other domains (such as Data, App Dev, etc.), it is recommended to also check out the other available specializations as they will also be relevant to your journey:

  1. Digital & App Innovation
  1. Data & AI

3. Technical & sales Enablement

Apply for access

The Azure OpenAI service is a gated service. This gating is one of the actions that Microsoft implements to ensure that Azure OpenAI is being used in a responsible way. If you want to learn more, then do take a look at the Microsoft Responsible AI portal (https://aka.ms/rai). This means that you have to apply for access to the service. The process can take up to 10 business to complete and therefore we suggest to apply for it today via the following url/button:

Request access

Or via this URL: https://aka.ms/oai/access

Frameworks and building blocks in the spotlight

Semantic Kernel

Semantic Kernel (SK) is a lightweight SDK enabling integration of AI Large Language Models (LLMs) with conventional programming languages. The SK extensible programming model combines natural language semantic functions, traditional code native functions, and embeddings-based memory unlocking new potential and adding value to applications with AI.

Great resources

Here are some great resources to get started with Azure OpenAI:

Some great resources to get started directly after the summer of 2023

Microsoft Build 2023

Great sessions

  1. Keynotes
    1. Microsoft Build opening
    2. The era of the AI Copilot (Get started with plugins: https://aka.ms/pluginrepo)
    3. Next generation AI for developers with the Microsoft Cloud
    4. Scott and Mark Learn to Code
  2. Featured session(s)
    1. State of GPT
  3. Introductory
    1. Learn Live: Introduction to Azure OpenAI Service (DIS02)
    2. Getting started with generative AI using Azure OpenAI Service (BRK214H)
  4. Copilot focussed
    1. Build and maintain your company Copilot with Azure ML and GPT-4
    2. UX: Designing for Copilot (DIS214H)
  5. Responsible AI focussed
    1. Building and using AI models responsibly
  6. Development focussed
    1. Enhance your solutions with new Azure AI products and features (BRK215)
    2. Building AI solutions with Semantic Kernel (BRK217H)
  7. GPU focussed
    1. How to build next-gen AI services with NVIDIA AI on Azure Cloud (BRKFP303)
    2. Open for AI: Secure paths to data collaboration, volume, and diversity (BRKFP304H)