Meta Introduces Large Language Model LLaMA as a Competitor for OpenAI
Meta has unveiled Llama 2, a generative AI model, and is offering a license fee-free version to businesses, directly challenging OpenAI and Google. Although Microsoft is Meta’s “preferred partner” for distributing Llama 2, the open-source large language model is also accessible from other sources such as AWS and Hugging Face.
Llama 2 Free
Llama 2 is an upgraded version of the model released in February, boasting increased power and capitalization choices. The new version comes in seven, 13, and 70-billion parameter options, trained on a database that Meta claims is 40% larger. The context window, which determines how much the AI remembers within a single conversation, has doubled to two trillion tokens. As a result, Meta touts that Llama 2 outperforms Llama 1 and many other open-source large language models.
The original Llama model was intended for research and academic projects only, but leaked details forced Meta to make its weights and other information public. To avoid a repeat, Llama 2 is now open-source. Microsoft’s partnership with Meta allows Llama 2 to be available in the Azure model library without a license fee. The decision to go open-source aligns with Meta’s philosophy and business strategy regarding generative AI models.
Emphasizing Safety and Privacy
Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the partnership with Microsoft and highlighted the safety and privacy policies behind Llama 2’s development. The model is pre-trained solely on publicly available data before undergoing multiple fine-tuning stages and human feedback rounds. Meta has also released a responsible use guide and an acceptable use policy to ensure proper usage of Llama 2 and address any concerns about trust.
Meta’s introduction to Llama 2 emphasizes transparency and access, acknowledging the risks associated with AI while committing to responsible development. The company aims to provide resources to help users of Llama 2 utilize the model responsibly.
Overall, Meta’s release of Llama 2 as a free generative AI model challenges the dominance of OpenAI and Google in the field. By going open-source and partnering with Microsoft, Meta aims to promote innovation, transparency, and responsible use in the development of AI models.