In a significant move to challenge the dominance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google. Meta the parent company of Facebook, has launched a new, free version of its AI model. The tech giants OpenAI and Google have developed influential large language models that serve as the foundation for ChatGPT.
Meta, on the other hand, has developed Llama, a language model specifically designed for researchers to refine. Importantly, Llama is open-source, meaning its internal workings are available to all and can be modified, unlike OpenAI and Google’s models.
Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in a Facebook post, stated, Open source fosters innovation as it enables many developers to build with new technology. He added, It also improves security because when software is open, more people can inspect it for potential issues and fix them.
Llama 2 will be available for download or through a special partnership with Windows manufacturer Microsoft’s Azure cloud service. This partnership with OpenAI is at the forefront of the company’s major partnerships, indicating that Microsoft is striving to diversify its AI products with those that allow businesses to maintain more control over their data and software.
Microsoft, a major player eager to penetrate the AI market, saw its share price skyrocket on Tuesday when it announced it would charge $30 per user per month for the AI-enhanced version of its Office platform, Microsoft 365. This will be a significant price increase for its commercial customers and could potentially lead to a substantial increase in Microsoft’s revenue if AI is seen as a necessary cost for advancement.
