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Azure OpenAI vs. ChatGPT?

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Azure OpenAI and ChatGPT are the same thing? Or something completely different? Neither: although both services are based on the same model, how they can be interacted with is very different. I dare to make an interpretation.

Definition and origin

ChatGPT is a specific model developed by OpenAI. It is based on the GPT architecture and specialises in generating human-like text responses. It was primarily developed as a conversational AI model that can be used in a variety of contexts, such as customer service, educational applications or simply as an interactive text tool.

Azure OpenAI Services, on the other hand, is a platform from Microsoft Azure that enables companies to integrate OpenAI models into their own applications. These services provide access to various OpenAI models, including GPT-3, GPT-4 and other specialised models, and combine them with Azure's cloud services.

Nutzung und Integration

ChatGPT can be used directly via various interfaces such as web apps, mobile apps or APIs. It is a ready-to-use product that users can apply directly to obtain text generation and conversation functions.

Azure OpenAI Services provide a more comprehensive platform for developers and organisations. By integrating with Azure, users can incorporate the customised OpenAI models into their own applications, workflows and business solutions via APIs. This enables deeper customisation and use of AI capabilities in specific contexts, such as data analysis, automated decision making and more. It is therefore also possible to use it "under the bonnet".

Flexibilität und Anpassung

ChatGPT offers a standardised use of AI that requires and enables little customisation, but is also suitable for most general purposes. It is ideal for users who want quick and easy implementations.

Azure OpenAI Services offer greater flexibility and customisation options. Developers can adapt the models to their specific needs, integrate additional data sources and develop customised solutions that meet high security and compliance requirements. Azure also offers extensive tools for managing, monitoring and scaling these services.

Security and compliance

ChatGPT is operated by OpenAI and offers basic security and data protection measures that are sufficient for general applications. The extent to which these can be expanded in cooperation with OpenAI is not known.

Azure OpenAI Services benefit from the security and compliance frameworks of Microsoft Azure. Organisations using these services can be confident that they meet stringent compliance requirements, including GDPR, HIPAA and other international standards. Azure also offers advanced security features such as identity and access management, network security and threat detection.

Costs and scalability

ChatGPT is only available as a subscription service, with costs based on the number of users. It is easy to scale, but customisation is limited.

Azure OpenAI Services offer flexible pricing based on the specific usage scenarios and the resources required (billing by means of tokens used). Scalability is virtually unlimited, as Azure provides a global infrastructure that enables companies to expand the services as required.

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Billing by tokens: I would like to add a small disclaimer here. Billing by tokens is usage-based, but it also has its pitfalls. You pay per input and per output token. So if you have something translated by a GPT model, you pay roughly the same number of input and output tokens (depending on the language pair). If you ask for a summary, the output will be less than the input. People often underestimate how many tokens a request actually consumes. Importing documents in particular drives up the price so that individual requests can easily cost > CHF 1.

Conclusion

Although ChatGPT and Azure OpenAI Services are based on the same fundamental OpenAI technologies, they offer different benefits and deployment options. ChatGPT is ideal for users looking for a ready-to-use solution, while Azure OpenAI Services provides a platform for companies looking to develop customised and scalable AI solutions or integrations.

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