Meta and Microsoft’s AI Alliance Boosts Llama 2’s Reach
In a collaborative move demonstrating the power of AI partnerships, Microsoft and Meta have jointly announced the availability of Meta’s AI language software, Llama 2, on Microsoft’s Azure cloud-computing service.
Unveiled during Microsoft’s Inspire conference, this partnership underlines Microsoft’s eagerness to promote AI languages beyond its previous investments, namely OpenAI.
Although Meta clarified it isn’t “focused on monetisation for Llama 2”, businesses desiring enterprise hosting capabilities would need to pay Microsoft for the service.
This strategic partnership allows both tech giants to benefit from the proliferation and use of Llama 2, while avoiding a direct monetisation approach for Meta.
As part of the deal, Llama 2 will also be available via Amazon Web Services and Hugging Face, a popular service among AI researchers.
A Shared AI Vision
Microsoft and Meta’s alliance extends beyond a simple commercial partnership. Both tech behemoths share a vision for democratising AI and its benefits.
With Llama 2, developers are provided a choice in the types of models they build, supporting open and frontier models. The tech giants see this as a move towards an “open innovation approach to today’s AI technologies” that could stimulate economic and social opportunities.
Azure: The Go-To Platform for Llama 2
Azure customers will now be able to fine-tune and deploy the 7B, 13B, and 70B-parameter Llama 2 models more efficiently and safely on Azure.
The platform, purpose-built for AI, is optimised for the world’s leading AI organisations to build, train, and deploy demanding AI workloads.
Additionally, Windows developers can use Llama 2 by targeting the DirectML execution provider through the ONNX Runtime, creating a seamless workflow for generative AI applications.
Also read:
Growth and Responsibility in AI
The growth and reach of AI technologies bring along inherent risks.
Microsoft and Meta have underscored their commitment to responsible AI development, addressing potential risks through layered approaches, including experimentation and measurement.
Services like Azure AI Content Safety add another layer of protection, ensuring safer online experiences with AI tools.
Through their partnership, Meta’s safety techniques are combined with Azure AI Content Safety, ensuring the deployments of Llama 2 models in Azure AI come with this layered safety approach. The goal is to provide a responsible, open approach to AI.
The Future of Llama 2
As we move into an increasingly AI-driven future, Llama 2’s integration with Azure and Windows marks a significant step.
The software’s availability could facilitate the creation of generative AI-powered tools and experiences. As we’ve seen with Meta’s first release of Llama, which garnered over 100,000 requests for access, there’s great anticipation for what the next generation of Llama will bring.
Microsoft and Meta’s partnership offers increased access to foundational AI technologies, paving the way for a more open and responsible AI future. The collaboration extends beyond AI, reaching into the realm of the metaverse to deliver immersive experiences for the future of work and play.
As Meta eloquently puts it, “We look forward to seeing what the world builds with Llama 2.”
