Microsoft brings DeepSeek R1 to Azure AI Foundry and GitHub

Microsoft has made a big splash in the AI space by announcing the availability of the DeepSeek-R1 model, a 671-billion parameter powerhouse comparable to OpenAI’s GPT-3, on Azure AI Foundry and GitHub. This move gives enterprises access to a highly scalable and trusted platform for leveraging advanced AI capabilities.

What Does This Mean for Enterprises?

With this launch, Microsoft claims that DeepSeek-R1 offers a seamless, enterprise-ready solution with guaranteed SLAs, top-notch security, and a focus on responsible AI practices. The model is designed to deliver state-of-the-art AI performance while being cost-efficient and accessible to a wide range of users.

Asha Sharma, Corporate Vice President of AI Platform, shared her perspective:

“AI reasoning is becoming more accessible at a rapid pace, transforming how developers and enterprises leverage cutting-edge intelligence. As DeepSeek mentions, R1 offers a powerful, cost-efficient model that allows more users to harness state-of-the-art AI capabilities with minimal infrastructure investment.”

Where Can You Access DeepSeek-R1?

Developers and enterprises can now access DeepSeek-R1 across three key platforms:
Azure AI Foundry: Available as a serverless endpoint through the model catalog, developers can simply visit Azure AI Foundry and select DeepSeek-R1 to integrate it into their workflows.

GitHub Models: DeepSeek-R1 is now part of GitHub Models, allowing developers to build AI-powered features and products with ease. You can try it out for free in the playground or via the API.

Windows Copilot PCs:

Soon, developers will be able to run distilled versions of DeepSeek-R1 locally on Copilot+ PCs powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X-series processors. Initially, DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-1.5B will be available in the AI Toolkit, with 7B and 14B variants to follow.

A Strategic Move in the AI Race

By hosting DeepSeek-R1 on Azure and GitHub, Microsoft further solidifies its position as a leader in the AI market. With over 1,800 models in its growing repository, including powerful open-source options, Azure is becoming the go-to platform for cutting-edge AI development.

This latest move is a clear signal that Microsoft is committed to staying ahead of the competition by making advanced AI accessible, scalable, and enterprise-ready.