  We introduce the notion of Azumaya object in general homotopy-theoretic
settings. We give a self-contained account of Azumaya objects and Brauer groups
in bicategorical contexts, generalizing the Brauer group of a commutative ring.
We go on to describe triangulated bicategories and prove a characterization
theorem for Azumaya objects therein. This theory applies to give a homotopical
Brauer group for derived categories of rings and ring spectra. We show that the
homotopical Brauer group of an Eilenberg-Mac Lane spectrum is isomorphic to the
homotopical Brauer group of its underlying commutative ring. We also discuss
tilting theory as an application of invertibility in triangulated bicategories.
