Meta releases Llama 3.1, Mark Zuckerberg calls for open source AI

Author: Martin Young, CoinTelegraph; Compiler: Deng Tong, Golden Finance

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is a big proponent of "open source" artificial intelligence, calling it the "way forward" for the industry as the company releases its latest Llama AI model.

On July 23, Mark Zuckerberg said the company was "taking the next step toward making open source AI an industry standard" with the release of Llama 3.1, which he described as the first "cutting-edge open source AI model."

Zuckerberg drew an analogy between the evolution of open source software Linux from the original closed-source Unix and the potential future of AI, suggesting that open source AI will become an industry standard.

“I believe AI will evolve in a similar way. Today, some tech companies are developing leading closed models. But open source is rapidly closing the gap.”

The tech billionaire touted the company’s latest AI, adding that Llama 3 is comparable to state-of-the-art models and leads in some areas.

The new model can converse in multiple languages, write higher-quality computer code, and solve more complex mathematical problems. It also has 405 billion parameters, which is significantly more than previous versions, but still lags behind competitors like OpenAI’s GPT-4, which reportedly has a trillion parameters.

Llama 3.1 version. Source: Meta

Beginning next year, Meta expects future Llama to be "the most advanced model in the industry," but until then it "is already leading the way in openness, modifiability and cost-effectiveness," he said.

"Meta is committed to open source AI," he said, citing several advantages, including customization, independence from closed vendors, data protection and cost-effectiveness for developers.

He said the company would also benefit from open source, which ensures access to the best technology and avoids being locked into a competitor’s ecosystem.

He argued that open source AI could be safer than closed alternatives due to transparency and wider scrutiny, noting that this also has strategic advantages for the United States and its allies.

Zuckerberg believes that open source AI is essential to a positive future for AI, concluding:

“Open source will ensure that more people around the world can enjoy the benefits and opportunities of AI, that power is not concentrated in the hands of a few companies, and that this technology can be more evenly and safely deployed across society.”

He concluded that the release of Llama 3.1 will be a “turning point for the industry” and that most developers will start using primarily open source AI.