Zuckerberg And Musk Set to Shake Up the AI Landscape and Take on Industry Giants
In a bold move that is sure to grab the attention of tech enthusiasts worldwide, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) recently announced its plans to launch a commercial version of its open-source AI model, LLaMA. With this launch, Meta aims to revolutionize the AI landscape and challenge the dominance of industry powerhouses like OpenAI, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGGOOGL)-owned Google.
But Meta isn’t the only one entering the AI ring. On Friday, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), unveiled his own AI venture called xAI. Musk’s new company has recruited top researchers from leading AI research labs, including Microsoft and OpenAI, as he aims to disrupt the dominance of ChatGPT.
Musk’s latest move comes as no surprise, given his expressed concerns about the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Earlier this year, Musk signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause in AGI development. By launching xAI, Musk hopes to actively shape the outcome of AGI and build a safe AI-powered world.
While Musk’s new AI firm will operate separately from his existing empire, the company’s website states that it will receive support from both Tesla and Twitter. Musk has already made it clear that he believes his new venture can be trusted more than Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Google when it comes to building a safe AI future.
However, the specifics of how Musk’s company will differ from its AI peers or what it will offer remain unclear. As Musk discussed xAI’s mission on Twitter, he did not provide details on how his company’s work will stand apart from the advancements made by other AI players.
Meanwhile, Meta Platforms has taken a significant leap forward by releasing details of its new AI model, LLaMA. Unlike Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Meta’s LLaMA is open-source, which means it discloses both the data and code used to build the model. This move sets Meta apart, appealing to customers who value transparency in AI development.
From an economic standpoint, Meta’s decision to launch LLaMA is a strategic move. Twitter, under Musk’s leadership, has faced criticism for its handling of customer concerns, particularly regarding the spread of disinformation and verification policies. With LLaMA gaining over 100 million users just days after its launch, it has surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the fastest-growing online platform in history. However, Meta’s market dominance has raised concerns among regulatory watchdogs who worry about the company’s influence.
Meta has faced regulatory scrutiny in the past due to its aggressive acquisitions of potential competitors, as seen with its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. However, as Threads was developed in-house, it falls outside the scope of merger control rules.
Despite Meta’s dominance in the tech industry, the company has garnered a reputation for questionable business practices. From the Cambridge Analytica scandal to failing to protect underage users and combatting hate speech, Meta’s actions have often prioritized its own power over the common good.
The launch of Meta’s LLaMA and Musk’s AI venture represents just another chapter in the ongoing AI race among Silicon Valley leaders. As these tech titans jostle for position in this rapidly developing field, it remains to be seen whether promises like those made by Musk will be fulfilled, and whether this progress will truly benefit society rather than serving the interests of Big Tech as it has done in the past.
