Mark Zuckerberg announced that the previously restricted AI model, which was exclusively available to a select group of academics for research purposes, will now be accessible for direct downloads.
Meta aims to establish a significant presence in the field of artificial intelligence with the introduction of the commercial edition of its open-source AI model, Llama. Microsoft will distribute the AI model, along with its enhanced version Llama 2, through the Azure cloud service, supporting the Windows operating system. Llama presents an appealing alternative to expensive proprietary models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.
Mark Zuckerberg announced that the model, previously limited to select academics for research, will now be available through direct downloads and various platforms like Amazon Web Services, Hugging Face, and others.
In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg highlighted the benefits of open source in driving innovation and expressed his belief in the potential of a more open ecosystem. The wide accessibility and free availability of the advanced Llama model present a significant challenge to the current leaders in generative AI software, including established players like OpenAI, supported by Microsoft and offering models through Azure.
Llama‘s initial version already stood toe-to-toe with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard chatbot. The new Llama version underwent training on an additional 40% of data, incorporating over 1 million human annotations to enhance output quality, as noted by Zuckerberg.
Llama’s Potential for Transformative Impact
According to Amjad Masad, CEO of the software developer platform Replit, the introduction of the commercial version of Llama holds the potential to bring about significant changes. Masad emphasized that any incremental improvement in open-source models poses a challenge to closed-source models, as they offer cost-effective solutions with reduced dependencies.
In response to competition from major cloud providers, Microsoft has revealed its plans to offer a range of AI models to its business customers. For instance, Amazon now grants access to Claude, an AI model developed by the renowned startup Anthropic, alongside its existing lineup of Titan models. Similarly, Google has expressed its intent to make Claude and other models accessible to its cloud clientele.
Previously, Microsoft primarily focused on making OpenAI’s technology available through Azure before this recent announcement.
