Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is preparing to release a commercial version of LLaMA, its open-source large language model (LLM) that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to generate text, images, and code. LLaMA, which stands for Large Language Model Meta AI, was initially introduced in February as a small foundational model and was made accessible to researchers and academics. However, according to the Financial Times, Meta is now ready to launch the commercial version of LLaMA, allowing developers and businesses to build applications using this foundational model.
The availability of LLaMA for commercial use presents an opportunity for businesses of all sizes to adapt and enhance the AI, thereby accelerating technological innovation across various sectors and potentially leading to the development of more robust models. Meta’s LLaMA comes in different variants with 7, 13, 33, and 65 billion parameters. In comparison, ChatGPT’s LLM, GPT-3.5, has 175 billion parameters. The exact number of parameters in GPT-4 has not been disclosed by OpenAI, but it is estimated to exceed 1 trillion parameters. Generally, a higher number of parameters allows the model to better understand input and generate appropriate output.
Currently, OpenAI is at the forefront of the AI race, with its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, making significant strides since its release in November. Microsoft has made substantial investments in OpenAI and utilizes GPT-4 technology in its AI-powered Bing search engine and Image Creator. Google also has its own AI chatbot, Bard, and proprietary LLMs. However, none of these systems are open source.
While open-source AI models already exist, the commercial launch of Meta’s LLaMA is significant due to its larger size compared to many available open-source LLMs and the fact that it comes from one of the world’s largest tech companies. This launch puts Meta in direct competition with Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Google, which could lead to significant advancements in the field of AI. Closed or proprietary software, such as that used in OpenAI’s ChatGPT, has faced criticism regarding transparency and security.
In conclusion, Meta’s release of the commercial version of LLaMA marks a major step in the AI industry. With its open-source approach and various parameter options, LLaMA provides businesses with the opportunity to harness and improve AI capabilities. The competition between Meta, OpenAI, and Google is likely to drive further advancements in AI technology, benefiting industries and society as a whole.
