Snowflake, the prominent cloud data company, has made a series of significant product announcements at its annual Summit event in Las Vegas. While the focus is on artificial intelligence (AI)-related features, Snowflake’s reveals encompass a range of offerings for developers as well. These announcements, coupled with recent acquisitions, highlight Snowflake’s ambition to create a comprehensive cloud application platform with a strong emphasis on data-centric solutions.
One of the notable AI-related announcements is the introduction of Document AI, currently in private preview. Document AI enables the querying of unstructured data stored in documents using natural language. Snowflake’s offering includes a large language model (LLM) that customers can fine-tune using their own data. Importantly, Snowflake has developed its LLM in-house, leveraging the expertise gained from its acquisition of generative AI specialist Applica Sp. z o.o. in September 2022. This approach allows Snowflake to offer a self-contained AI solution without relying on external LLM providers.
Snowflake’s commitment to AI extends beyond software. The company has announced a significant partnership with Nvidia, a renowned GPU powerhouse. This partnership enables Snowflake to provide Nvidia GPU infrastructure and access to the NeMo framework. NeMo is an end-to-end platform designed for building custom LLMs. With NeMo, customers can utilize foundational models provided by the platform and conduct additional training using their own Snowflake data. By leveraging Nvidia’s GPU capabilities, Snowflake strengthens its AI offerings and provides a comprehensive solution within the secure boundaries of its customers’ Snowflake accounts.
The collaboration with Nvidia through the NeMo framework is a notable development that predates the current surge of interest in generative AI and LLMs. NeMo’s power was evident from its initial announcement almost a year ago, and with the growing enthusiasm surrounding generative AI, this partnership becomes even more compelling. Snowflake’s strategic approach to AI, combining in-house developments and key partnerships, reinforces its commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions for its customers.
Snowflake’s Summit announcements mark a significant step towards its goal of building a comprehensive cloud platform for analytics, AI, and applications. By focusing on data-centric offerings and strategic partnerships, Snowflake aims to provide a robust ecosystem that empowers developers and drives innovation in the cloud computing landscape.
