Verizon Business and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have formed a new deal to give small businesses better network links for AI services. The plan centers on adding high-capacity fiber connections to tie Verizon’s network into AWS data centers. The aim is to make cloud-based AI tools run more smoothly and without slowdowns.
For small firms, this means easier access to AI that can help with tasks like tracking inventory, analysing customer habits, speeding up patient records, or making production lines more efficient. Still, companies will need to weigh costs, staff training, and any system upgrades before they adopt new AI tools. Data safety and privacy must also be managed carefully.
Verizon says the work is needed because AI will change how businesses operate. “AI will be essential to the future of business and society, driving innovation that demands a network to match,” states Scott Lawrence, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Verizon Business.
The deal pairs AWS cloud services with Verizon’s expanded fiber so that generative AI and other apps can scale without hitting network limits. “The next wave of innovation will be driven by generative AI,” says Prasad Kalyanaraman, Vice President of AWS Infrastructure Services.
The move builds on prior cooperation between the two companies and aims to help small businesses use AI without having to manage complex infrastructure. Verizon’s offering—branded Verizon AI Connect—seeks to support both current apps and new AI projects, while AWS provides the cloud tools and platforms.
Adoption challenges remain. Small businesses must plan for costs, training, and updates to systems. They also need to ensure secure handling of data when relying on cloud AI services. Even so, the partnership is meant to lower technical barriers and let smaller firms try AI sooner and at lower risk.
The agreement extends a long-running partnership and offers a clearer path for smaller businesses to add AI to their operations, backed by stronger network links and cloud support.
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