Microsoft, through a strategic partnership, has invested an undisclosed sum into Builder.ai, a start-up that primarily develops applications with no code technology. It helps companies make applications without any coding experience, doubling down on its artificial intelligence efforts. Sachin Dev Duggal, founder and CEO of Builder.ai believes that the future of technology is going to a place where the customer doesn’t need to be technical. He thinks that technology should be that simple even people with no or less technical knowledge can utilize it.
Builder.ai, a 2016 startup with its headquarters in London, belongs to the group of companies that create platforms with supposedly "no-code" and "low-code" requirements. With the help of its platform, anyone can create and maintain apps, from tech-averse artists wishing to sell their creations online to design experts with little to no programming background. “Technology should not just confine with people with abundant technical knowledge, but it should be that simple and easy that anyone can make use of it”, said Sachin Duggal in a CNBC interview.
Microsoft has invested in Natasha, an AI project manager at Builder. ai which uses machine learning algorithms to suggest features users might require based on the kind of app they are developing. Additionally, Natasha develops quick prototypes for people to assist in visualizing their ideas. Microsoft is planning to integrate Natasha into its team's video and chat software to let its customers build business apps within the platform. According to Sachin Dev Duggal video conferencing, chats, and other digital platforms get transformed and digitalized with such collaboration, since with such business deals builder.ai will also enhance Natasha by utilizing Microsoft’s AI algorithms to make it sound more human.
The collaboration would grant Builder.ai, and its customers access to the Azure collection of cloud tools from Microsoft, including a set of AI capabilities it provides through a partnership with American company OpenAI.