Microsoft has unveiled a new tool for Windows developers called AI Studio, with a primary focus on aiding them in seamlessly integrating generative artificial intelligence into their applications. However, an interesting twist accompanies this release – the tool operates exclusively on the Linux platform, specifically requiring Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver or a later version, initially launched in April 2018.
Emphasizing that “all data processing is done locally,” Microsoft places a demand for a robust machine capable of handling the considerable AI workload. For those running Windows 11, the prerequisite is the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Notably, AI Studio, in its current Windows preview, is limited to functioning exclusively on NVIDIA GPUs.
Bringing together leading development tools in AI from the Azure AI Studio catalog and other relevant catalogs, including that of Hugging Face, the Manhattan-based company that forged a strategic partnership with Microsoft in 2022. Hugging Face’s model catalog was integrated into Azure Machine Learning Studio the previous summer.
While Windows AI Studio is packaged as a Visual Studio Code Extension, necessitating the installation of VS Code, its introduction has sparked reactions on GitHub. Some users expressed dissatisfaction, urging a revision of system requirements, particularly excluding the launch of a virtual machine, favoring reliance on native means.
This announcement has raised eyebrows due to the unconventional choice of limiting the tool to Linux, alienating Windows as the native environment. Microsoft’s directive to access Linux through Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) adds an extra layer of complexity for users, particularly given the gradual adoption of Windows 11, which currently constitutes only 27% of all installs compared to Windows 10’s 68%.
As Windows AI Studio continues its preview phase, it remains to be seen how Microsoft addresses user feedback and whether adjustments will be made to make the tool more accessible to developers across different operating systems. Despite the technical limitations and the preference expressed by some users to avoid Linux, there is acknowledgment of the tool’s accessibility on Windows machines, albeit with additional complexities.
