When you want to create a solution that uses natural language processing (NLP), you can use a lot of open-source libraries. However, if you take a closer look at the Azure AI, they have NLP features through Azure AI language, and it starts from FREE.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) development with Azure AI involves utilizing Microsoft's suite of tools and services to build, deploy, and manage NLP models and applications. Azure offers a range of NLP-related services such as Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Machine Learning, and Azure Databricks, which provide capabilities for language understanding, sentiment analysis, named entity recognition, and more.
Using Azure AI for NLP development allows developers to harness the power of pre-built models and APIs for common NLP tasks, as well as the flexibility to build custom NLP models using machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch on Azure Machine Learning. Additionally, Azure provides infrastructure and tools for data processing, model training, and deployment, making it a comprehensive platform for NLP development.
By leveraging Azure AI for NLP development, businesses and developers can expedite the creation of language-aware applications, automate text analysis workflows, and gain insights from unstructured data sources. Azure's robust security and compliance features also ensure that NLP applications built on the platform adhere to industry standards and best practices. Overall, Azure AI empowers developers to create sophisticated NLP solutions while benefiting from the scalability, reliability, and performance of the Azure cloud platform.
To create an Azure AI Language project using Visual Studio, follow these steps:
Provision Azure Resources:
Create an Azure Subscription (you can create one for free).
Log into Language Studio.
If it’s your first time logging in, choose a language resource and select “Create a new language resource.” Provide details such as name, location, and resource group.
Use Language Studio with Your Own Text:
Once you’re ready to use Language Studio features on your text data, you’ll need an Azure AI-language resource for authentication and billing. I recommend you do not need to activate this because it needs to be paid, but of course, I recommend you to subscribe when the transaction goes up.
Follow the setup process to create your resource.
You can then call REST APIs and use client libraries programmatically. You can see a lot examples here Language Studio - Microsoft Azure
Remember to choose a location for your Azure AI language resources so the latency of the resources
Some NLP scenarios that you can expect:
Extract information that comes from the document/text. For example, you want to understand the main topic or contribution of an article
Classify text for sentiment analysis, language detection, and custom text classification. For example, you want to moderate content in the forum
Question and answer. For example, creating a Bot for simple question-and-answer.
Summarize information. For example, you want to create meeting notes based on the meeting documents / conversational text
Customize translation. For example, you want to create a translation of a natural language to cat language :D
Learning AI by Doing It
As a person who does not have a perfect background on Mathematics and Basic Science, learning AI is somewhat challenging. However, AI is not a new kid on the block. If you want to start to learn AI by today, you shall find numerous things to learn and it will become complicated. On this article, I want to share about how to learn AI with the minimum effort at the beginning and then increasing based on your need. I split the steps into three major steps: Level 1 (Fundamental), Level 2 (Associate), and Level 3 (Expert). As a case study, I use Microsoft ecosystem to start the learning process. Let's get started.
Level 1 Fundamental
Start to learn what is AI all about. Think the AI as a solution rather than a set of mechanism / process. On this level, you should learn what AI impact in the society. On this level, you will learn AI as a black box that empower you to do more.
You can start by understanding the AI on Azure. If you want to learn how AI is applied in the cloud computing.
After you grab the fundamental, try to explore which one do you find most interested to understand.
If you interest with image / audio / visual, you can start learning how to use AI on computer vision
If you interest with speech / text / understand the meaning, you can start learning how to use AI on natural language processing
If you interest with chatbot, you can start learning how to use AI on chatbot
Enriching your knowledge about the AI in this MOOC Course
After you grab the fundamental knowledge my recommendation is to join AI-900 exam to validate your knowledge.
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Level 2 Associate
On this level, you will learn how to develop customized AI solution based on the 'existing' model. You will need
Microsoft Cognitive Services. It is a set of services that can be extended to provide a set of AI service.
Azure Machine Learning Studio. It is a tool to design, develop, and deploy the AI solution.
You can start the learning process by
Understanding the role and the benefit of cognitive services.
Azure Cognitive Language Services
Azure Cognitive Speech Services
Azure Vision Services
Azure Decisions
Azure Search
Creating a model with Azure Machine Learning Studio by learning this course to learn
Try to build the classification model
Try to build the clustering model
Try to build the regression model
After this course, you can join AI-100 exam to validate your knowledge as AI engineer
Level 3 Expert
On this level, you will learn custom development of AI solution based on the 'niche' problems that need you to build the model from the scratch. You will need
Visual Studio / Visual Studio Codes.
SQL Server / Azure Data Lake / Azure Storage or any data solution that can help you to build and to maintain your model.
You can start the learning process by
Understanding the option to build machine learning
Choosing the right tools
If your computer is not sufficient you can try the Data Science Virtual Machine
If your computer is good enough you can build the AI Solution with AI tools with Visual Studio
Learn ML.NET if you are .NET developer, I recommend you to use Visual Studio 2019 or newer.
Learn Python if you are non .NET developer, I recommend you to use Visual Studio Codes.
There is a lot of option to learn after this. For example, you can learn how Deep learning, AI on IOT, AI works on data analytics, how to use ML Flow in Databricks, or using R as your choice of your programming language. After this course, my recommendation is to visit Azure Architecture Center to understand the recommended architecture to build better solution.
You can learn further by clicking the links.
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