OpenAI to Unleash Open-Source Model: Will It Benefit the AI Race?
Has OpenAI Lost the Open Race?
OpenAI, once a research non-profit organization committed to developing digital intelligence, became a closed-source model with "capped profit" under a new organizational structure and leadership changes. It started keeping its programs hidden from the public, which made its co-founder Ilya Sutskever admit that they were wrong and embraced the open-source technology.
OpenAI's Plan to Release their Open Source AI Model
OpenAI is soon to release a new open-source model, which aims to enter the open source race. However, rumors indicate that it will not be in competition with its flagship GPT. The move toward open-source technology encourages continuous innovation, allowing people to work and provide feedback on codes. It is a two-way system that favors both the makers and users.
The Benefits and Threats of Open Source
Companies, such as Google (PaLM), Meta (LLaMA), and Hugging Face, adopt open source technology to get contributions from outside developers. The latest model's weights of Meta's LLaMA were also available for free to the public, which democratised LLMs. Meanwhile, Google internally acknowledged that open-source technology posed a threat to the company, especially in the AI race.
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The Back and Forth of OpenAI
The company's change in approach has caused it to receive criticism, particularly Elon Musk, one of the initial founding members of OpenAI. He expressed his concerns about how OpenAI had become a closed-source "maximum-profit" company controlled by Microsoft, which he had not intended it to be. OpenAI's co-founder, Ilya Sutskever, expects that in the next few years, everyone will realize that "open-sourcing AI is not wise."
Is Open Source the Way to Go?
The open model format is the only factor holding OpenAI back from staying ahead of the AI race. It is intriguing to see what OpenAI's open source model will offer.
Conclusion
It is a fact that OpenAI lost the open race when it made its programs closed-source. However, as one of the pioneers in the AI industry, OpenAI has a significant responsibility to set the precedent for ethical and accessible AI development. Open-sourcing their AI models is an excellent move towards open collaboration and innovation, but we need to wait to see its impact.