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The Race to AGI: Meta Bets Big on Llama
1/27/24
Editorial team at Bits with Brains
Artificial general intelligence (AGI) represents the holy grail of AI - systems that can understand, reason, and apply knowledge like humans. Now, Meta is pursuing this goal full throttle, with major implications for business and society.

Meta's newly upgraded Llama 3 language model will be a significant stride towards AGI. Llama 3 builds on its predecessor Llama 2, an open-source model developed jointly with Microsoft. This latest iteration is expected to tackle many of the issues plaguing chatbots, advancing research into critical problems.
Why AGI Matters for Meta
The strategic motivations behind Meta's AGI push are clear. AGI promises new revenue streams, and an edge over big tech rivals also chasing this breakthrough. For CEO Mark Zuckerberg, AGI aligns with his long-term vision for Meta's future.
If successful, Meta could influence tech standards and make its platforms more engaging via new AGI-powered features. Collaboration with other companies seems likely, given the scope of the challenge. However, Meta is also concerned its rivals may use safety fears as an excuse to slow AGI progress overall.
The Promise and Peril of Open Sourcing
Meta's open-source approach to Llama development is crucial. By sharing code and models, researchers can refine Meta's systems for different needs, as they have with Llama 2. This could yield more robust, less biased AI.
However, providing open access to powerful AI also raises ethical issues around misuse and privacy. While Meta acknowledges these concerns, it sees openness as the best way to develop AGI responsibly.
Preparing for the AGI Era
For business leaders, Meta's AGI push represents a seismic tech shift. AGI will enable transformative efficiency gains but also pose threats: job losses from automation, security risks of advanced AI. Firms must track progress, model impacts, and evolve strategies.
Policymakers face a similar challenge, needing frameworks to govern this technology. By spurring the AGI race, Meta's gambit makes these issues more urgent.
Meta's pursuit of AGI represents a potential watershed for technology and society. Via models like Llama, Zuckerberg is betting Meta can lead this transformation. If Meta or another tech giant achieves AGI, the implications will be profound across business, government, and daily life.
With AGI on the horizon, business leaders and policymakers have little time to address the enormous opportunities and risks it presents.
Sources:
[1] https://about.fb.com/news/2023/07/llama-2/
[2] https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/8/23629362/meta-ai-language-model-llama-leak-online-misuse
[3] https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/18/24042354/mark-zuckerberg-meta-agi-reorg-interview
Citations:
[1] https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/18/24042354/mark-zuckerberg-meta-agi-reorg-interview
[2] https://analyticsindiamag.com/meta-eyes-agi-with-llama-3/
[3] https://ai.meta.com/llama/llama-impact-grants/
[4] https://wandb.ai/byyoung3/ml-news/reports/Meta-Begins-Training-Llama-3--Vmlldzo2NTY4OTc2
Sources