Facebook’s parent company, Meta Platforms, has developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) system called Llama 2, which rivals models like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. However, Meta is taking a unique approach by releasing Llama 2 for free, partnering with Microsoft to introduce the next generation of its AI large language model. This move aims to promote innovation and improve system security by involving outside researchers to identify and address potential issues.
Meta’s decision to make Llama 2 open source aligns with its philosophy of driving progress through collaboration and transparency. By allowing more developers to access the technology, Meta believes it will unlock further advancements in AI. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, highlighted the company’s commitment to openness, citing previous examples of open-sourcing AI work like the widely used machine-learning framework PyTorch.
While Meta has been forthcoming about sharing data and code, the research paper introducing Llama 2 reveals a more limited level of openness compared to previous models. It states that Llama 2 was trained on a new mix of publicly available data, excluding Meta’s own data. The specific sources of the data are undisclosed, but Meta assures that it removed information from websites containing a high volume of personal details.
Meta’s partnership with Microsoft allows users to download the AI models directly or access them through Microsoft’s cloud platform, Azure, along with Microsoft’s safety and content tools. However, the financial terms of the collaboration have not been disclosed. Although Microsoft is considered a preferred partner, Meta plans to make the models available through other platforms like Amazon Web Services and AI start-up Hugging Face.
The announcement of this AI partnership took place at Microsoft’s annual event for business customers, where both companies emphasized their shared commitment to democratizing AI. Microsoft also revealed that its flagship generative AI tool, Microsoft 365 Copilot, will come with an additional monthly fee of $30 per user for businesses.
In summary, Meta Platforms’ release of Llama 2 as an open-source AI system, in collaboration with Microsoft, represents a unique approach in the AI landscape. By providing free access to the technology, Meta aims to foster innovation and enhance system security while promoting collaboration with external researchers. With Llama 2, Meta hopes to continue driving advancements in AI and enabling developers to explore its potential further.
