Shiver Me Timbers! Amazon's AI Costs Are About to Walk the Plank!

Why is the Rum Always Gone? Oh Wait It's AI Costs!

Savvy? It appears Amazon's captain Andy Jassy has declared war on those exorbitant AI costs! In his annual missive to the shareholders – a document I suspect is longer than my list of debts – he foretells of a future where AI won't cost more than a ship full of gold. He speaks of 'price performant chips' and other such techno wizardry that sounds suspiciously like Davy Jones' locker to me! But fear not me hearties for Jassy claims these improvements will lead to AI being as 'expansively used as customers desire.' Finally I'll have an AI that can find me a decent bar on any island! A pirate can dream can't he?

Investing Like a Pirate: X Marks the AI Spot

Amazon's throwing pieces of eight… well more like 100 billion pieces of eight at the AI beast this year! They're building data centers faster than I can run from an angry Elizabeth Swann. It seems they're determined to meet the exploding demand for this 'generative AI,' which I assume is something that can generate more rum. One can only hope! They've unleashed a whole fleet of AI products from Nova models to Trainium chips. Makes me wonder if one of those chips could steer the Black Pearl while I'm… indisposed.

Streamlining the Ship: Less Crew More Booty!

Jassy who took over from Bezos has been tightening the ship's sails streamlining the business and bringing costs in check. Or as I like to call it finding the most efficient way to plunder. There have been some unfortunate job cuts – more than 27,000 mind you! It's a cruel world this but Jassy insists that Amazon must continue to operate like the "world's largest startup." Scrappy willing to take risks and moving quickly. Sounds like a pirate's life to me minus the bureaucracy and the whole 'corporate' bit obviously. Although I must admit I do enjoy a good meeting especially when there's rum involved.

The Bureaucracy Mailbox: A Pirate's Guide to Efficiency

Apparently Jassy has created a "bureaucracy mailbox" where employees can send in their complaints about red tape. A brilliant idea! I may need to start one on the Black Pearl for Gibbs. Jassy says he's received almost 1,000 emails and made over 375 changes based on the feedback. "Builders hate bureaucracy," he says. "It slows them down frustrates them and keeps them from doing what they came here to do." I couldn't agree more! Bureaucracy is like trying to sail against the wind with a hole in your sails – utterly pointless! Now if only I could eliminate the 'Pay your debts' bureaucracy… where's that rum gone again?

A Why Culture? More Like a 'Why Not?' Culture!

Jassy harps on about Amazon's 'Why Culture' – constantly questioning everything. 'Why can't we offer customers every in print book?' 'Why not offer more than Books?' Sounds suspiciously like my own philosophy: 'Why not take everything that isn't nailed down?' He even mentions Leadership Principles like 'Learn and be Curious' and 'Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit.' I'd amend those slightly to: 'Learn where the rum is hidden' and 'Disagree until you get your way.' That's how a pirate eh I mean a leader gets things done!

Alexa+: The AI That Can Finally Order Rum!

Jassy seems particularly excited about Alexa+ the AI that can actually *do* things like order items make reservations and even find a plumber! Now that's what I call progress! Imagine a digital parrot that can handle all the mundane tasks while I'm busy… well pirating. He says they have over 600 million Alexa devices out there. That's a lot of potential rum ordering power! Perhaps the age of the machines isn't so bad after all especially if they can keep my glass full.