Llama 3.1 Release and Open Source AI

Meta released Llama 3.1, including a 405 billion parameter model - the most sophisticated open source AI model to date. 

Key points:

1. It's the first open source "frontier model" at this scale, competing with and sometimes outperforming leading closed models.
2. Synthetic data generation and model distillation has been introduced
3. Support for 8 languages has been added
4. Smaller models (e.g. 8B) have seen significant improvements
5. It signals Meta's strong commitment to open source AI development, potentially shifting the industry landscape.
6. It could accelerate AI innovation by giving more developers, researchers, and companies access to state-of-the-art AI capabilities.
7. It challenges the closed-source approach of other major AI companies like OpenAI and Google.
8.  You can try it right now at https://www.meta.ai

Mark Zuckerberg on Open Source AI

So Mark Zuckerberg is strongly advocating for open-source AI development. He believes open-source will be safer and more secure. Meta aims to make Llama the industry standard for open source AI, similar to Linux for operating systems.

This stance puts Meta in direct opposition to other major tech companies that favor closed AI development.

Zuckerberg argues that open-source AI will be safer and more secure in the long run. He believes that by allowing widespread scrutiny and development, open-source models will be more robust against unintended harms. This view challenges the prevailing notion that tightly controlled AI development is necessary for safety.

Furthermore, Zuckerberg suggests that open-source AI could prevent the concentration of AI power in the hands of a few companies. He envisions a future where businesses, governments, and individuals can create customized AI models for their specific needs. This democratization of AI technology could have far-reaching implications for innovation, economic growth, and global technological equity.

In the same time, this approach also raises concerns about potential misuse of powerful AI models. Critics worry that unrestricted access to advanced AI capabilities could lead to malicious applications or exacerbate existing societal issues.

Zuckerberg's push for open-source AI represents a significant divergence from the strategies of other tech giants and could potentially reshape the landscape of AI development and deployment. It sets the stage for a broader debate about the future of AI governance, safety, and accessibility.

Don't get me wrong, I love open source, am a happy Linux user both on my desktop computer and running my website's virtual private servers on it. But AI, potentially some day becoming a basis for AGI -- I'm not sure that's something we want everyone to have access to. On the other hand, if it's left in the hands of the few, won't they abuse their power? Here's a catch-22 for you.

Running a Smaller LLama Model Locally

The improved 8B (8 billion parameter) version of LLaMA 3.1 is particularly exciting for local deployment.

Here's an expanded look at running it locally using RouteRLM and its advantages:

1. It can run on your computer: You can use this AI model on a good laptop or desktop, not just big servers.
2. Works with RouteRLM: RouteRLM helps your computer decide when to use the local AI and when to use more powerful online AI.
3. Saves money: Using your own computer for most tasks means you don't have to pay as much for online AI services. ✔️ 
4. Keeps your data private: Your information stays on your computer for most tasks.✔️ 
5. Works offline: You can use it even without internet. ✔️ 
6. Faster for many tasks: It can be quicker than waiting for online AI to respond. ✔️ 
7. Can be customized: You can train it to be better at specific tasks you care about.

Not gonna lie, this is a pretty exciting development. As usual, we're moving towards new technology becoming cheaper and more accessible to everybody, slowly but surely. I can't wait to upgrade my current system and run my own LLama now.