AI is Getting a Huge Boost from Open Source!
Hey everyone! John here, back with some exciting news about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Recently, Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, and Meta’s (that’s Facebook’s parent company) CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, had a chat, and they both agreed on something big: Open source is super important for the future of AI!
What Does “Open Source” Even Mean?
Lila, my assistant, is curious as always. Lila, what’s on your mind?
Lila: “John, what exactly does ‘open source’ mean? Sounds complicated!”
Well, Lila, it’s not as scary as it sounds! Imagine you’re building with LEGOs. Open source is like having access to the instructions and all the LEGO bricks (the code) for everyone to see and use. Anyone can see how it’s built, modify it, and share it. Closed source is like a secret recipe – only the company that made it knows how it works.
AI is Speeding Up!
Mr. Nadella said that AI is getting better and faster, like a car going into hyperdrive! He thinks we’re seeing a 10x performance boost every six to twelve months. That means AI is learning and improving incredibly quickly. This is because of improvements in chips, software, and model design.
Mixing and Matching AI Models
The goal is to be able to mix and match different AI models. Think of it like having a toolbox. You can pick the best tool (AI model) for the job. Some models might be great at writing code, while others are better at answering questions. You can take the best of each, and use them together.
Lila: “So, like a super AI made of all the best parts?”
Exactly, Lila! And this is where open source comes in. Having access to open-source models lets you combine the best parts from different places, making AI even more powerful.
“Distillation” – Like Magic!
One of the coolest ideas discussed was something called “distillation.” Imagine you have a really big, complex AI model. Distillation is like shrinking it down while keeping most of its smarts.
Lila: “Wait, like making a tiny version of something huge?”
Precisely! It’s like taking a powerful computer program and creating a smaller, more efficient version. This smaller version can do almost the same things, but it’s cheaper and easier to use. Mr. Zuckerberg even called it “magic!”
AI is Writing Code!
Both Mr. Nadella and Mr. Zuckerberg are excited about AI’s role in coding. AI is already writing a lot of code at Microsoft, possibly up to 30%! They think that soon, engineers will be more like “tech leads,” using AI to help them build software.
Lila: “So, will AI take over all the coding jobs?”
Not exactly, Lila. AI will likely become a tool that helps coders work more efficiently, helping them build better things. This means software developers are going to become more productive in their work, faster than ever before!
Open Source: The Future is Now
The article highlights how important open source is for AI. It allows lots of people to work on improving AI models and share their progress. This creates rapid advancements in the field and helps everyone benefit. The key idea is to be able to build applications by “mixing and matching” the best parts of several models.
Mr. Ghodsi, the co-founder of Databricks, thinks we’re just at the very beginning of the AI era. He believes that the most amazing AI applications are still to come.
The Importance of Data
A key ingredient in the recipe for successful AI is data. The right data, refined and improved through AI models, will drive the development of new products.
The message from Mr. Ghodsi is clear: it’s time to experiment with these new technologies and discover what can be accomplished. The future of AI is in our hands!
My Take
I think this is a really exciting time for AI. It’s amazing to see how quickly things are changing and how open source is playing such a vital role. It’s like we are at the cusp of a revolution, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Lila: “Wow, John! So, this means I could potentially talk to an AI that helps me write stories, or even one that helps me with my cooking… That sounds amazing! I’m already thinking of how I can use it.”
Well said, Lila! The possibilities are endless!
This article is based on the following original source, summarized from the author’s perspective:
Open source has a ‘massive role to play’ in AI orchestration
platforms, says Microsoft CEO