Meta Platforms has recently introduced Llama 2, an artificial intelligence large language model, for commercial use in collaboration with major cloud providers like Microsoft. Instead of charging for access or usage, Meta aims to share the model with other companies to encourage its widespread adoption, leading to potential improvements through extensive usage, stress testing, and issue identification.

With the launch of Llama 2, Meta solidifies its position as a significant player in the AI arms race, joining the ranks of other tech giants. The company is heavily investing in AI infrastructure, and Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO, emphasizes the integration of AI advancements into all their products and algorithms.

Meta covered the expenses of training the models, and cloud providers such as Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Hugging Face are hosting the necessary tools and computing power. The development of Llama 2 resulted from the efforts of Meta's generative AI group, which conducted safety tests known as "red-teaming exercises" to ensure the model's reliability and security. This version is distinct from the one used for Meta's internal products.

The partnership with Microsoft further aligns Meta with the tech giant's AI leadership, particularly due to Microsoft's collaboration with OpenAI. Ahmad Al Dahle, Vice President of generative AI at Meta, views Llama 2's open-sourced nature as an opportunity for smaller businesses to swiftly adopt large language models without the need for their custom servers and computing power.

Large language models like Llama 2 primarily power text-based chatbots, but their applications extend beyond just question-answering AI. They are trained by processing vast amounts of data, typically sourced from the internet, to enhance their response generation capabilities.

Meta has a track record of open-sourcing its infrastructure and AI developments, aimed at advancing the industry as a whole. Additionally, the company intends to provide access to Llama 2 for academic researchers, fostering collaboration and progress in the field.

Source: https://gulfbusiness.com/meta-opens-ai-chatbot-tech-for-commercial-use/