Microsoft goes beyond OpenAI, makes Meta’s new A.I. model available to Azure customers

Microsoft went massive on synthetic intelligence with its multibillion-dollar funding in OpenAI, whose chatbot expertise is getting used alongside search and different key merchandise.

But Microsoft is making clear that it isn’t strictly an OpenAI store in the case of generative AI. On Tuesday at its Inspire convention, the corporate stated it is making Meta’s new AI giant language mannequin, dubbed Llama 2, obtainable on its Azure cloud-computing service.

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Meta stated in a weblog put up that Microsoft is its “preferred partner” for its Llama 2 software program, which is accessible totally free for corporations and researchers.

“Meta and Microsoft share a commitment to democratizing AI and its benefits and we are excited that Meta is taking an open approach with Llama 2,” Microsoft stated. “We offer developers choice in the types of models they build on, supporting open and frontier models and are thrilled to be Meta’s preferred partner as they release their new version of Llama 2 to commercial customers for the first time.”

A Meta spokesperson stated the corporate is “not focused on monetization for Llama 2.” Companies that want to entry the software program by way of a business license would wish to pay Microsoft for the enterprise internet hosting capabilities.

In February, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced the general public launch of Llama, which is meant to assist scientists and engineers discover purposes for AI resembling answering questions and summarizing paperwork.

Although Meta is not going to instantly earn a living from the take care of Microsoft, it stands to probably profit by getting its homegrown AI software program within the palms of extra customers and builders. Llama 2 may even be obtainable by way of Amazon Web Services and Hugging Face, a well-liked service utilized by AI researchers.

The deal is important for Microsoft as a result of it exhibits the software program big is throwing a few of its weight behind an AI language mannequin not developed by OpenAI.

Microsoft shares rose about 4.7% in noon buying and selling to $362.12.

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