Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has recently introduced its latest AI system, Llama 2, which is set to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. The unique aspect of Llama 2 is that it will be available for free, strategically leveling the playing field for startups and businesses. This move allows smaller companies to compete with industry giants like OpenAI and Google, who offer expensive AI systems.
To distribute Llama 2, Meta has partnered with Microsoft, making it their “preferred partner.” Microsoft will provide access to the AI system through its widely-used Azure cloud service, expanding Meta’s reach across a vast network of businesses and developers already utilizing Azure’s services.
Llama 2 is part of Meta’s Large Language Model (LLM) series, which includes the backbone of generative AI products like ChatGPT. Building on advancements from previous language models, Meta aims to push the boundaries of AI capabilities, positioning itself as a strong contender in the AI landscape.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, emphasizes the company’s commitment to openness and innovation with the release of Llama 2. By offering the technology for both research and commercial use, Meta aims to foster a collaborative environment for the development of new AI applications.
In line with their transparent approach, Meta has open-sourced Llama 2, promoting accessibility and idea exchange within the AI community. However, some concerns have been raised regarding the level of detail provided in the research paper introducing Llama 2. While the model was trained on publicly available data and excluded Meta’s proprietary products and services, information from websites containing personal data was removed to protect user privacy.
Users can access Llama 2 through various avenues, including direct download from Meta and access through Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. Llama 2 will also be available on other platforms like Amazon Web Services and Hugging Face, ensuring widespread accessibility for developers and businesses worldwide.
During Microsoft’s Inspire event, the company also announced its new AI tool, Microsoft 365 Copilot, available to businesses for a monthly fee of $30 per user. This offering further diversifies Microsoft’s AI portfolio, providing businesses with an alternative AI solution to Meta’s free Llama2.
With the release of Llama2, Meta Platforms aims to drive innovation in the AI industry while promoting transparency and accessibility. By offering Llama2 for free, Meta enables startups and businesses to leverage AI without significant costs. As Llama2 enters the competitive landscape alongside ChatGPT and Bard, it will be intriguing to see how businesses and developers embrace this new AI rival and the impact it will have on the future of AI applications.
