The debate over open vs closed AI models is 'ridiculous,' Meta AI ...
The AI boom has raised the stakes in the tech industry's long running debate over the merits of open source versus closed source software. But for Facebook parent company Meta, "unlocking" large language models is the only way to go if AI is to reach its full potential. According to Manohar Paluri, a vice president of generative AI engineering at Meta, speaking at Fortune’s Brainstorm AI conference in San Francisco, it’s ridiculous to enclose AI and have an API for intelligence. Progress for AI in the coming decades will only happen if the open route is embraced.
Meta’s Approach with Llama
Meta’s Llama large language model, while not meeting the definition of open source as defined by the Open Source Initiative, is still among the largest and most powerful AI models that's freely available for the general public to download, customize, and create AI apps or tools with. Paluri highlighted that the accessibility of Llama is key to its success, as “distribution” is one of four crucial elements among all successful models today, alongside talent, compute power, and data.
Critics' Concerns
There have been concerns raised by critics of open AI models about the technology potentially falling into the wrong hands. Reports surfaced earlier this year that Chinese researchers had used Meta's Llama technology to create an AI model for military use. Despite these concerns, Paluri emphasized the benefits of open source over addressing the safety issue directly.
Advantages and Competition
Meta's open approach with Llama has helped it catch up with rivals like OpenAI and Alphabet in the AI race. Meta AI, the company's generative AI chatbot and search bar, boasts about 600 million monthly active users, surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT which operates via a closed model with 300 million users a week.
While the actual engagement levels of Meta AI's reported 600 million monthly users remain unclear, Paluri noted the seamless integration of Meta AI within various Meta apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, reaching over 3 billion users daily. The improvement in Meta AI's technology is evident day by day, with Paluri stating, “The tech is definitely improving day by day.”
Further Reading:
- Amazon’s top AI exec says industry concerns that LLMs hit a ‘wall’ are overblown, says Jeff Bezos ‘very involved’ in AI efforts
- Microsoft’s biz dev boss on the big bets that could define the future of AI
- Stability AI’s new CEO, hired six months ago, says business growing by ‘triple digits’ and no more debt
