AI Builder | A World of AI at Your Fingertips

Introduction

Welcome to this episode of the AI Show! Today, hosts Rob Albert and Ashish Bhatia guide us through an exciting and transformative tool called AI Builder. This no-code and low-code solution democratizes AI, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical background.

Introduction to AI Builder

In today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape, software development is becoming increasingly vital. According to Gartner, by 2025, 70% of new software development will utilize low-code and no-code solutions. This shift is particularly relevant in the realm of AI, opening up new avenues for intelligent applications and workflows.

Rob shares his enthusiasm, especially as an individual with a non-developer background, about the growth of low-code platforms. The discussion introduces the Microsoft Power Platform, which encompasses Power BI, Power Apps, Power Pages, Power Automate, and Virtual Agents, all supported by an underlying data management layer (Dataverse) and a low-code programming language (PowerFx). AI Builder resides here, enhancing the Power Platform's capability.

The AI Ecosystem

Ashish explains how AI Builder integrates into the broader Microsoft AI stack. At the base lies the Azure ML platform, designed for experienced data scientists who need complete control over their machine learning models. Above that is the Cognitive Services layer, offering pre-built models in vision, speech, language, and decision-making, although it still requires some coding expertise. At the top layer—AI Builder—users can leverage no-code solutions to create AI applications efficiently. The key advantage is its direct integration within the Power Platform, providing quick deployment and model governance.

Demos Showcase AI Builder’s Capabilities

The main highlight of this episode is watching AI Builder in action. Ashish demonstrates how easy it is to create a Power App that scans receipts for expense reporting. He uploads an image of a lunch receipt, and the AI model swiftly extracts the necessary details—merchant name, date, and total amount—automatically generating an expense report.

The second demo features an automated workflow with invoices. The process involves uploading an invoice file to SharePoint, triggering an automated flow that extracts relevant data and sends an email upon completion. Ashish showcases how custom machine learning models can be trained through a simple wizard interface—again emphasizing that no coding is required.

Conclusion

This episode wraps up with a reassurance that AI can be approachable and straightforward for people. AI Builder's pre-built and customizable models, combined with user-friendly features, make it a powerful enforceable solution for various business needs. Rob and Albert thank Ashish for his insights and showcase, expressing their excitement about the innovation AI Builder represents.

Keywords

• AI Builder
• Low-code
• No-code
• Microsoft Power Platform
• Azure ML
• Cognitive Services
• Pre-built models
• Custom models
• Expense report
• Invoice processing

FAQ

Q1: What is AI Builder?
A1: AI Builder is a no-code and low-code solution that allows users to create AI applications quickly and easily within the Microsoft Power Platform.

Q2: How does AI Builder fit into the Microsoft ecosystem?
A2: AI Builder integrates with Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and more, leveraging a common data management layer and offering pre-built and customizable AI models.

Q3: Can I build custom machine learning models with AI Builder?
A3: Yes, AI Builder enables users to train custom machine learning models using a simple drag-and-drop interface, making the process accessible without needing coding skills.

Q4: What types of applications can be built with AI Builder?
A4: Users can create applications for various scenarios, including expense reporting and invoice processing, by utilizing pre-built AI models or developing their customized solutions.

Q5: Does AI Builder require extensive technical knowledge?
A5: No, AI Builder is designed for users without extensive technical backgrounds, featuring user-friendly tools that allow for app creation and data extraction without writing code.