A public cloud is a computing service model that provides scalable, on-demand IT resources and services, like storage and processing power, to the public over the internet. These services are operated by third-party providers and are available to anyone who wants to use or purchase them.
The public cloud is characterized by its ease of access and elasticity, catering to a wide range of users from individual developers to large enterprises. Its services are offered on a metered basis, meaning customers pay only for what they consume, which can lead to cost savings compared to maintaining private data centers. Public clouds deploy a multi-tenant architecture, where infrastructure and services are shared among multiple customers, yet remain isolated to ensure privacy and security.
In the context of AI, public clouds provide tools and platforms that support the entire lifecycle of AI applications, from development to deployment. This includes managed services for machine learning, data analytics, and cognitive computing capabilities. The public cloud's extensive network infrastructure also ensures that AI applications can be deployed globally, delivering content at the edge, closer to end-users for improved experiences.
Despite its numerous benefits, the public cloud model may not be suitable for all workloads, especially those with stringent regulatory or data sovereignty requirements. In such cases, organizations might consider private clouds or hybrid models, which combine elements of both public and private cloud environments.