AWS unveils new AI tools, education data deals & USD $100m boost

Macquarie University has announced a major transition to a cloud-first environment, shifting critical workloads into Amazon Web Services-managed infrastructure in a move designed to support over 40,000 students and 3,000 staff with improved digital capabilities.

This new phase of digital transformation at Macquarie University is expected to bring significant operational efficiencies. According to the university, the strategy is forecast to reduce licensing costs by approximately 40 percent, delivering financial as well as technological benefits.

In addition to the cost savings and increased flexibility, the collaboration provides the university access to AWS's generative AI capabilities, including Amazon Bedrock. With these tools, Macquarie University will be able to develop new digital solutions intended to enhance student pathways and support course discovery, further personalising the student experience.

Data management in education

Another recent AWS partnership aims to address longstanding challenges around data management in higher education. AWS is now working with MortarCAPS, a data framework for education providers, to simplify and modernise how data is handled across the post-secondary sector.

The collaboration aims to tackle difficulties faced by education institutions when working with fragmented and inconsistent data systems, which can impede insight generation, student support, and innovation. Through this partnership, institutions can more easily adopt the MortarCAPS data standard, with solutions that do not require extensive technical expertise.

This allows educators to unlock data-driven insights, personalise learning experiences, and work towards improved student outcomes at scale. The MortarCAPS standard was developed in consultation with The Council of Australasian University Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT) and over 60 higher education institutions, to help universities and colleges better organise, access, and use their information.

AI agent services and skills programs

At its latest event, AWS unveiled a series of new services aimed at making it easier and more secure for organisations to use and scale AI agents. The headline announcement was the introduction of Bedrock AgentCore, which enables organisations to deploy and operate secure AI agents at the enterprise level. AWS described AgentCore as providing a pathway for developers to bridge the gap between proof-of-concept projects and full-scale production.

AWS made a series of announcements at this year's AWS Summit in New York that make it easier and more secure to use and scale AI agents, while reinforcing commitments to safe, responsible, and accessible AI. The major highlight was the launch of Bedrock AgentCore, a new capability that enables organisations to deploy and operate secure AI agents at enterprise scale. With AgentCore, developers can bridge the critical gap between proof of concept and production.

Other announcements included a USD $100 million boost to the Generative AI Innovation Centre, expanded customisation in Amazon Nova foundation models, and the launch of AWS AI League. This new platform is designed to help developers improve their skills with gamified challenges, reflecting the company's commitment to broadening access to AI tools and training, especially for early-career professionals preparing for an AI-driven workforce.

Supporting the space sector

AWS has also announced the Space Accelerator programme in Australia, a new ten-week initiative designed to support up to 40 space-tech startups from Australia, India, and Japan. The initiative aims to foster innovation and accelerate commercialisation within the region's space industry.

Participating startups will receive up to USD $100,000 in AWS credits alongside access to expertise, mentorship, and venture capital networks. The programme is being delivered with support from the Australian Space Agency, iLAuNCH, and other regional partners.

Digital skills commitments

AWS confirmed it has signed the New South Wales (NSW) Digital Skills and Workforce Compact, agreeing to the 20% Alternative Pathways Pledge, where one in five digital entry-level hires will come from alternative training routes by the year 2030.

This pledge is specifically aimed at addressing the projected shortfall of 85,000 digital workers in NSW by the end of the decade, and is part of a larger initiative to increase entry into technology careers through new and diverse pathways.

Focus on sustainability

Amazon, parent company of AWS, has released its 2024 Sustainability Report. The document highlights progress made with various sustainability initiatives, including new customer tools such as Amazon Q and Alexa+, the launch of advanced data centre technologies, and an expansion of its carbon-free energy portfolio in response to increased energy demands from AI development.

For the fifth year running, Amazon remains the world's largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy, and for the second year in a row, all of Amazon's electricity use has been matched with renewable energy sources.