Yesterday, a conference filled with high-minded panelists discussed the potential of open source AI. This marks a shift from the app-centric focus of the past decade, where developers were content to hand over their technologies to larger platforms. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently endorsed open source AI as the way forward, releasing Meta’s own open-source AI algorithm, Llama 3.1.
Interestingly, OpenAI, despite its name, does not utilize open source AI for its largest models. Instead, it keeps some of the code private and charges for access to its technology. This has led some experts to believe that smaller, fine-tuned open source models can outperform larger proprietary models for enterprise tasks.
While open source AI has its benefits, there are also risks involved. The technology is open and free, making it easier for malicious actors to exploit it. Additionally, some open-source AI models may not truly be open, as the training data used to create them could still be kept secret.
Politicians like California State Senator Scott Wiener have raised concerns about the unregulated development of large-scale AI systems. Wiener’s AI safety and innovation bill aims to establish standards for developers of AI models, require safety testing, and protect whistleblowers. He spoke at the conference, acknowledging feedback from the open source community and making amendments to address concerns.
Andrew Ng, a prominent figure in the field of AI, also spoke at the event in support of open source models. He emphasized the importance of allowing entrepreneurs to innovate freely, rather than being bogged down by legal challenges.
Overall, the conference shed light on the growing interest in open source AI and the need to balance innovation with safety and regulation in the field. As technology continues to advance, finding the right approach to AI development will be crucial for shaping the future of the industry.