Microsoft has partnered with Builder.ai to create AI solutions that streamline enterprise software and app development.
Builder.ai specialises in AI-powered development software that enables businesses to build their native web and mobile apps without requiring technical expertise. Builder.ai’s “Natasha” AI product manager tool will be integrated with Teams and available for users looking to develop business apps and software.
The strategic collaboration also includes a Microsoft equity investment in Builder.ai.
Sachin Dev Duggal, Chief Wizard & Founder of Builder.ai, said:
We are thrilled to be working so closely with Microsoft. This collaboration for Builder.ai is centred around alignment of our core mission. From my first meeting with Microsoft to the moment we agreed to collaborate more strategically, one thing has been really clear-Microsoft’s commitment to helping everyone unlock their true potential.We are ecstatic that the world’s largest software company chose Builder.ai as a collaborator to lay down deeper roots in helping the next 100m businesses and beyond become digitally native.”
Builder.ai’s solution breaks software into intuitive block-like features, a system complemented by customisation options from a network of designers and developers comprising a “human-assisted, AI-powered assembly line”, as Builder.ai’s announcement describes the offering.
“Our collaboration with Builder.ai is an extension of our mission to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more,” commented Jon Tinter, Corporate Vice President, Business Development at Microsoft. “We see Builder.ai creating an entirely new category that empowers everyone to be a developer, and our new, deeper collaboration fuelled by Azure AI will bring the combined power of both companies to businesses around the world.”
As well as Natasha’s availability through Teams, there will be further integrations across Microsoft’s portfolio, including Azure OpenAI Service and other Azure Cognitive Services with Builder.ai’s assembly line and adoption of the Microsoft Cloud and AI.
There will also be partnerships with Microsoft Developer Platforms, accelerating Builder.ai’s ambition of aligning the non-technical customer and the expert from the Builder.ai Expert Network.
Duggal added that as customers include more features from Builder.ai’s platform, their demand for more solutions from its marketplace grows. “This collaboration best demonstrates our flywheel,” he said. “Successful customers build more, do more, and we want our collaboration with Microsoft to be an integral part of this journey of digital growth for all our customers.”
The Week of AI Launches
Microsoft’s partnership with Builder.ai continues a busy few days for AI integration news.
This week, Microsoft announced it was expanding its Copilot Early Access Programme to an initial wave of 600 businesses after “overwhelming feedback” from the original 20 organizations with preview access to the AI-powered productivity tool since March.
Microsoft also revealed that it was introducing new Copilot AI capabilities to its 365 suite, including OneNote, Outlook and Whiteboard. This update means that Microsoft has implemented its Copilot AI across its full 365 suite.
Wednesday’s Google I/O was heavily AI-themed. As well as rolling out generative AI for its core search engine, the Search Generative Experience, Google also launched Duet AI for Google Workspace, a generative AI productivity tool.
Duet AI is partly a rebranding of generative AI tools for Docs and Gmail launched in early access in March. However, the launch of Duet AI includes new features across the Workspace suite, the most significant of which is full integration across all Workspace apps and the addition of generative AI for Gmail on mobile, named “help me write”.
