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Module 8 · AWS AI Services

Choosing the Right AWS AI Service

Service selection starts with the workload: custom ML, foundation-model applications, or a purpose-built API for text, speech, vision, or documents.

Written and reviewed by Mahendra Akula Knowledge Bytes
Article available nowVideo lesson coming later

This reading lesson is complete and can be studied independently. The video will be added here when it is published.

Core idea

Choosing the Right AWS AI Service

Service selection starts with the workload: custom ML, foundation-model applications, or a purpose-built API for text, speech, vision, or documents.

Design principle: Define the outcome, use authorized information, constrain the system, and verify real results before relying on them.

Visual workflow

How the parts connect

01Classify workload→
02Compare managed options→
03Check constraints→
04Choose simplest fit

Every boundary is an opportunity to validate inputs, permissions, quality, and failure handling.

AWS AI service decision map

Foundation-model appsAmazon Bedrock
Custom ML lifecycleAmazon SageMaker AI
Workplace assistantAmazon Q
Text insightsAmazon Comprehend
Images and videoAmazon Rekognition
DocumentsAmazon Textract
Speech to textAmazon Transcribe
Text to speechAmazon Polly
Conversational UIAmazon Lex

Worked example

Apply the concept

For scanned invoices, Textract is a simpler fit than building a custom vision model; for a custom demand forecast, SageMaker AI provides the needed model lifecycle.
RequirementState the user outcome and success measure.
InformationUse representative, authorized, high-quality data.
ControlAdd permissions, validation, review, and recovery.
EvidenceMeasure quality, safety, latency, cost, and value.

Production and responsibility checklist

01

Quality

Correctness, relevance, coverage, and consistency.

02

Security

Identity, data, tools, networks, and logs.

03

Fairness

Impacted groups and meaningful failure differences.

04

Operations

Latency, errors, drift, quotas, and availability.

05

Human control

Review, escalation, override, and accountability.

06

Economics

Usage drivers and measurable business value.

Knowledge check

What to remember

  • Classify workload
  • Compare managed options
  • Check constraints
  • Choose simplest fit
  • Identify the requirement, constraint, risk, and verification method before choosing a technology.

Key takeaways

  • Classify workload
  • Compare managed options
  • Check constraints
  • Choose simplest fit

Check your understanding

  1. Can you explain this concept in two sentences without using jargon?
  2. Can you identify the input, process, output, and validation step in the example?
  3. Can you name one suitable use case and one case where another approach is better?
  4. Which risk or limitation should a responsible implementation address?

Research references

Public sources and further reading

This lesson is original educational writing informed by the public references below. Use the sources to explore definitions, technical details, and current AWS exam objectives.