Yeah, look, this isn’t an enormous advance when it comes to AI performance and improvement. However as a PR train, it’s a considerably vital leap.
Late final week, Meta introduced that it’s working with Booz Allen to “deploy a fine-tuned model of Llama 3.2 aboard the Worldwide House Station (ISS) Nationwide Laboratory,” which can allow astronauts to make use of its AI fashions for problem-solving and content material era in house.
As defined by Meta:
“Utilizing a compact, energy-efficient system much like these utilized in satellites, the staff sped up AI duties from minutes to only over a second utilizing fashions fine-tuned with NVIDIA CUDA software program and its acceleration libraries, together with cuDNN and cuBLAS. Because of this tech stack, which is believed to be the primary of its type used past Earth, astronauts will be capable to harness some great benefits of digital applied sciences for analysis, quick decision-making and agile knowledge entry with out having to handle the danger of shedding connectivity.”
Meta says that “House Llama” will embrace each generative and multimodal AI, so it will probably course of a number of inputs to offer AI-based suggestions and evaluation:
“For instance, House Llama can be utilized to assist researchers simply retrieve data from essential technical reference paperwork and directions, no web wanted.”
Meta says that that is “a standout case of American innovation,” and a key instance of how its open supply AI method will assist to sharpen the U.S.’s aggressive edge.
“This second is only the start of House Llama. We envision a future the place open supply fashions like Llama play a significant function in house exploration and analysis, working “hand in hand” with astronauts as they resolve advanced scientific issues and assist advance innovation for all.”
Which is all hyperbole, with the announcement being way more bombastic, and nationalistic, than Meta’s regular, extra technical explainers.
But, when it comes to improvement, this doesn’t actually matter to the common particular person, to the common Fb or IG consumer, this isn’t some main innovation with widespread utility or implication in consequence.
So why is Meta so eager to spotlight this as a serious milestone in AI achievement?
Nicely, for one, the capability use its AI instruments in house does really feel noteworthy, given the computational and connective necessities. Although astronauts have been capable of entry the web from the ISS since 2010, so actually, it doesn’t appear to be that massive of a technical leap, on the whole context.
What Meta appears extra curious about highlighting, nevertheless, is the necessity for the U.S. authorities to clear the guardrails on AI improvement, as a way to preserve America within the lead over worldwide rivals.
China, particularly, is spending massive on AI improvement, and if the U.S. needs to maintain a maintain on its management within the AI race, it wants U.S. regulators to remain out of the way in which, and allow corporations like Meta to maintain pushing their progress.
Which additionally comes with dangers, and varied teams are already warning in opposition to permitting AI improvement to go too far, unchecked.
However massive bulletins like this, which merge the alternatives of house exploration with the newest AI developments, may assist to construct Meta’s case for broader funding and open improvement of AI.
And on the identical time, it additionally looks like a little bit of a slap within the face for Elon Musk, who would think about himself to be the chief in space-related innovation. The truth that Meta’s AI mannequin is being utilized in house first, over Musk’s xAI, will little question stick in his craw, and which will nicely have been one other motivation for Meta to spotlight this.
Both means, it’s fascinating to see how Meta’s open supply method will not be solely increasing its AI attain and innovation, but in addition the way it’s trying to discuss such, and promote these achievements to the general public.
