Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Amazon’s DSSTNE machine learning tech is now open source

By Brad Jones May 17, 2016

amazon open source product recommendation tech prime price increase — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Machine learning isn’t just about researchers digging into hypotheticals in sterile labs. Major corporations use this kind of artificial intelligence to help with the complexities of serving a massive, often international audience — and now Amazon is making its machine learning software open source.

The company’s Deep Scalable Sparse Tensor Network Engine — otherwise known as DSSTNE and pronounced “destiny” — is now available to anyone who’s interested in tinkering with it. Amazon hopes that outside influences will help make the platform even more powerful than it already is, according to a report from Engadget.

Related: Check out the latest in unique tech here

“DSSTNE is built for production deployment of real-world deep learning applications, emphasizing speed and scale over experimental flexibility,” reads documentation that accompanies the files released by Amazon.

Internally, DSSTNE is used to deliver purchase recommendations to consumers based on their order histories. Product recommendations are big business for Amazon, as having such a daunting catalog of merchandise is really rather worthless unless customers are able to discover items that are relevant to their interests.

Making DSSTNE open source might allow a third party to offer up improvements that slipped under the nose of the developers at Amazon. However, it also allows the retailer to demonstrate an ability to compete with some of the biggest names in tech.

Last November, Google announced plans to make its proprietary TensorFlow deep learning system open source. Between Amazon implementing a similar tactic with DSSTNE and the company’s continued interest in IoT devices, it’s clear that technology is a huge focus for the 20-year-old online retail giant.

DSSTNE is available now from the Amazon Labs account on GitHub for anyone looking to put a powerful machine learning tool through its paces. Novices are advised to dip their toe in the water by checking out the accompanying setup guide.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…

Audio / Video

You can now buy an Amazon Echo Studio With Billie Eilish’s face on it

Amazon Echo Studio Billie Eilish Special Edition speaker.

Billie Eilish has managed to amass legions of fans during her short career, and now those who love her music can choose to buy a limited-edition Amazon Echo Studio wireless smart speaker with Eilish's face on it. The Billie Eilish Limited Edition Echo Studio costs $230 ($30 more than the regular Studio) and you can pre-order it right now, with deliveries beginning on October 14.

The special version of Amazon's largest Echo smart speaker is decorated with the cover art from Eilish's recently released second studio album, Happier Than Ever. In addition to Eilish's face being on full display, the speaker comes with a six-month Amazon Music Unlimited subscription. You'll need that if you want to hear the new Eilish tracks in spatial audio via the Studio.

News

Amazon is planning to open its largest retail stores to date

Amazon is planning to dramatically expand its brick-and-mortar footprint with the opening of large sites similar to department stores, a report claimed on Thursday, August 19.

The company that made its name with online shopping has in recent years taken a growing interest in physical outlets, opening bookstores, grocery stores, and premises selling its growing range of electronics, among other items.

Mobile

Amazon takes down another popular tech accessory company, following Aukey, Mpow

A month removed from reports that Amazon had removed two extremely popular tech accessory brands -- Aukey and Mpow -- from its store due to involvement with a fraudulent reviews system, another huge name has disappeared. RAVPower, one of the key competitors to Aukey and Mpow, has received the same treatment: The company's products and store page have been wiped clean from Amazon. Amazon confirmed to The Verge that all three companies were removed intentionally.

Like the companies that fell before it, RAVPower had seemingly very popular products and many happy customers. I've personally used many RAVPower batteries and chargers, and generally found them to be solid products. But whether the products are actually good isn't what's at focus here; Amazon's apparently taking action on companies that are astroturfing their reviews and ratings.