In Battle Over A.I., Meta Decides to Give Away Its Crown Jewels: Why This Move Is Inviting Deep Controversy
Introduction
Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is one of the most rapidly evolving technologies today and tech giants are racing to claim the crown in this space. However, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) has taken a unique approach by giving away its A.I. crown jewels as open-source software. Meta’s move has invited deep controversy and criticism from rivals Google and OpenAI, who believe this approach is dangerous for the industry.
The Unusual Move by Meta
Meta created an A.I. technology, called LLaMA, which can power online chatbots. Instead of keeping the technology to itself, Meta chose to give away its underlying computer code, providing outsiders with everything they needed to quickly build chatbots of their own. However, those who can access the code are vetted by the company before receiving it. The platform that will win in the A.I. space will be the open one, says Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief A.I. scientist.
The Contrast with Google and OpenAI
Google and OpenAI believe that an open-source approach to A.I. technology like Meta’s is dangerous, as they are becoming increasingly secretive about their methods and software that underpins their A.I. products. Google and OpenAI are worried that A.I. tools like chatbots will be used to spread disinformation, hate speech, and other toxic content. Some within Google have also wondered if open-sourcing A.I. technology may pose a competitive threat. In a memo, a Google engineer even warned colleagues that the rise of open-source A.I. software could cause Google and OpenAI to lose their lead in A.I.
Why Meta’s Move is Inviting Controversy
A.I.’s rapid rise in recent months has raised concerns about the technology’s risks, including how it could upend the job market if it is not properly deployed. Also, within days of LLaMA’s release, the system leaked onto 4chan, the online message board known for spreading false and misleading information. So, while Meta’s move is commendable, it may not be the best one and may have adverse repercussions.
Related Facts
-Many companies have shared their A.I. technologies openly in the past, but their tactics are changing because of the race around A.I. Some hoard the most important tools that are used to build tomorrow’s computing platforms, while others give those tools away.
-Last year, OpenAI released ChatGPT. The chatbot’s success wowed consumers and kicked up the competition in the A.I. field, with Google moving quickly to incorporate more A.I. into its products and Microsoft investing $13 billion in OpenAI.
Key Takeaway
Meta has decided to give away its A.I. crown jewels to the world in the form of open-source software. This move is inviting deep controversy and criticism from rivals such as Google and OpenAI. While Meta’s move is commendable, A.I.’s rapid rise has raised concerns about the technology’s risks, including how it could upend the job market, and there are fears A.I. tools like chatbots could be used to spread disinformation and hate speech.
Conclusion
Meta’s move is unprecedented in the world of A.I., and it’s admirable that the tech giant is willing to share its technological advancements with the world. However, there’s still much to be done to ensure that A.I. is not misused and poses no risks or harms. Companies like Google, OpenAI, and Meta must all come to an agreement about the best way to ensure A.I. is used for good and does not harm consumers and society.
