In a significant move for the AI industry, Microsoft has announced the integration of DeepSeek’s R1 model into its Azure AI Foundry platform and GitHub. This development, which occurred on January 29, 2025, marks a major step forward in making advanced AI capabilities more accessible to developers and enterprises worldwide.
What is DeepSeek R1?
DeepSeek R1 is a powerful 671B parameter AI model designed to enhance deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision capabilities. It has gained attention for its performance, which is comparable to OpenAI’s GPT-3 model, and its cost-efficiency, allowing more users to harness state-of-the-art AI with minimal infrastructure investment.
Integration with Azure AI Foundry
The addition of DeepSeek R1 to Azure AI Foundry expands Microsoft’s already impressive portfolio of over 1,800 AI models. This integration provides several key benefits:
- Enterprise-Ready Platform: DeepSeek R1 is now accessible on a trusted, scalable platform that meets SLAs, security standards, and responsible AI commitments.
- Rapid Development: Developers can quickly experiment, iterate, and integrate AI into their workflows using built-in model evaluation tools.
- Safety and Security: The model has undergone rigorous safety evaluations, including automated assessments and security reviews to mitigate potential risks.
Availability on GitHub
In addition to Azure AI Foundry, DeepSeek R1 is also available through GitHub Models. This allows developers to easily build AI features and products directly on GitHub, with options to try the model for free in a playground environment or via API access.
How to Access DeepSeek R1
To start using DeepSeek R1 on Azure AI Foundry:
- Sign up for an Azure account if you don’t have one.
- Search for “DeepSeek R1” in the Azure AI Foundry model catalog.
- Open the model card and click “Deploy” to obtain the inference API and key.
- Access the playground to test prompts and integrate the model into your applications.
Future Developments
Microsoft has announced plans to release distilled versions of DeepSeek R1 for local operation on Copilot+ PCs. This will enable developers to create and deploy AI-powered applications that run efficiently on-device, utilizing Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for improved performance.
Industry Impact
The integration of DeepSeek R1 into Microsoft’s ecosystem has sent ripples through the AI industry. The model’s cost-effectiveness and lower chip requirements have impacted companies like NVIDIA, whose market valuation saw a significant drop as investors reacted to DeepSeek’s advancements.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s swift action in making DeepSeek R1 available on Azure AI Foundry and GitHub demonstrates the company’s commitment to staying at the forefront of AI innovation. This move not only expands the tools available to developers but also intensifies competition in the AI market, potentially driving further advancements in the field.As AI continues to evolve rapidly, the availability of powerful models like DeepSeek R1 on accessible platforms will likely accelerate the development of AI-powered solutions across various industries. Developers and enterprises now have another robust tool at their disposal to create innovative applications and services that harness the power of advanced AI.
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DeepSeek R1 is now available on Azure AI Foundry and GitHub