This topic shows you how to get started with Platform for AI (PAI) and introduces typical AI development workflows on the platform.
1. Activate the product
Log on to the PAI console, select a region in the upper-left corner, and then click Activate Now. After you activate the service, a default workspace is automatically created.
To prevent activation failures due to insufficient AliyunPAIFullAccess permissions, use your Alibaba Cloud account to activate the service.2. Quick Start
Choose a functional module based on its description.
Follow its quick start guide to learn the basics through a simple example.
Read the module's user guide to explore more features and best practices.
Click the link in the Functional module column to go to the user guide for that module.
Functional module | Description | Quick Start |
Provides a cloud-based IDE for AI development. Developers familiar with Notebooks or VSCode can quickly start model development. | ||
Offers over 140 built-in algorithm components for low-code, visual modeling using a drag-and-drop interface. | ||
Allows you to quickly create distributed or standalone training tasks without manually provisioning machines or configuring environments, mirroring the local experience of running training scripts. | ||
Deploys trained models as an online inference service with simple configuration. | ||
Integrates DLC and EAS to train and deploy open-source large language models efficiently with zero code. |
3. Get help
The FAQ documents contain common questions and solutions from developers using PAI. If you encounter issues with modules like DSW or EAS, refer to the corresponding FAQ document:
4. Typical AI development process
PAI covers the entire AI development process, from data preparation and model training to model deployment. The following sections describe two typical AI development processes.
Cloud-native AI development
Step | Description | References |
① | Dataset management in PAI centrally manages local, cloud, and public datasets as data sources for model training. | |
② | DSW provides a cloud-based IDE for AI development. Developers familiar with Notebook or VSCode can quickly start model development. | |
③ | Image management in PAI centrally manages official public images and your custom images. An image provides the runtime environment for your code. | |
④ | After developing and testing your model code in DSW, use DLC to run training tasks for higher efficiency and cost savings. | |
⑤ | PAI supports mounting file systems (such as NAS and OSS) and Git repositories, which simplifies specifying data and code when you submit a task. | |
⑥ | Model management centrally manages trained models, which can be directly deployed by using EAS. | |
⑦ | After a model is trained, use EAS to quickly deploy the model as an online inference service. |
AI and big data development
Step | Description | References |
① | If your data is stored in MaxCompute, first use DataWorks for data pre-processing. You can then reference the MaxCompute table as the training data source in PAI. | |
② | Designer offers over 140 built-in algorithm components for low-code, visual modeling using a drag-and-drop interface. | |
③ | Use DataWorks to configure and run periodically scheduled tasks. | |
④ | Task management in Designer records execution details for experiments and custom tasks, which simplifies task comparison and analysis. | |
⑤ | Model management centrally manages trained models, which can be directly deployed by using EAS. | |
⑥ | After a model is trained, use EAS to quickly deploy the model as an online inference service. |
FAQ
Q: The Activate Now button is grayed out and a message appears: "The current account does not have permission to activate PAI. Contact the owner of your Alibaba Cloud account." What should I do?
Solutions:
Use your Alibaba Cloud account to complete the activation.
If you are using a Resource Access Management (RAM) user, you must add the AliyunPAIFullAccess system policy to the RAM user. Note: This policy grants extensive permissions. The Alibaba Cloud account administrator should assess the security risks before granting it.
Q: What should I do if the error message Create order error: message is Your account balance is less than 0. Please top up your account and try to purchase again. productRequestId is *** is displayed when I try to activate PAI??
Go to the User Center page to view your bills and pay any outstanding fees. Then, try activating PAI again.