Era of AI

The hottest technology of 2023 had a busy last few weeks of the year. On November 28th Abu Dhabi launched a new state-backed artificial-intelligence firm, ai71, that will commercialise its leading “large language model” (llm), Falcon. On December 11th Mistral, a seven-month-old French model-builder, announced a blockbuster $400m funding round, which insiders say will value the firm at over $2bn. Four days later Krutrim, a new Indian startup, unveiled India’s first multilingual llm, barely a week after Sarvam, a five-month old one, raised $41m to build similar Indian-language models.

Ever since Openai, an American firm, launched Chatgpt, its human-like conversationalist, in November 2022, just about every month has brought a flurry of similar news. Against that backdrop, the three latest announcements might look unexceptional. Look closer, though, and they hint at something more profound. The three companies are, in their own distinct ways, vying to become ai national champions. “We want ai71 to compete globally with the likes of Openai”, says Faisal al-Bannai of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council, the state agency behind the Emirati startup. “Bravo to Mistral, that’s French genius,” crowed Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, recently. Chatgpt and other English-first llms “cannot capture our culture, language and ethos”, declared Krutrim’s founder, Bhavish Aggarwal. Sarvam started with Indian languages because, in the words of its co-founder, Vivek Raghavan, “We’re building an Indian company.”

The technology and AI landscape has indeed been bustling with developments, especially in the realm of large language models (LLMs). Here’s a brief rundown of the key events you mentioned:

1. Abu Dhabi’s ai71 Launch: On November 28th, Abu Dhabi introduced ai71, a state-backed artificial intelligence firm. They aim to commercialize Falcon, their leading large language model. The move is significant as it represents a substantial state investment in AI technology, with the intention of competing on a global scale.
2. Mistral’s Funding Success: Mistral, a French model-builder, announced a massive $400 million funding round on December 11th. This values the company at over $2 billion. Such a significant investment underscores the market’s confidence in AI technology and its potential applications. Mistral is being hailed as a beacon of French innovation and genius.
3. Krutrim and Sarvam’s Indian LLMs: India is not far behind in the AI race. Krutrim unveiled India’s first multilingual large language model, and shortly before that, Sarvam raised $41 million to build Indian-language models. Both startups highlight a growing trend of AI solutions being tailored to specific cultural and linguistic contexts. This localization is crucial for AI technology to be truly inclusive and effective globally.

These developments are indeed more than just routine announcements. They signify a broader shift in the AI industry:

• National Champions in AI: Countries are recognizing the strategic importance of having homegrown AI capabilities. By fostering ‘national champions’ in AI, they not only boost their technological sovereignty but also position themselves as key players in the global AI market.
• Cultural and Linguistic Diversification: The emphasis on building models that understand and reflect specific cultures and languages is a significant step. It’s not just about having AI that speaks multiple languages, but about creating AI that understands the nuances, ethos, and idiosyncrasies of different cultures. This is crucial in making AI more accessible and useful for people worldwide.
• Global Competition and Collaboration: While there’s a competitive edge to these developments, they also open doors for global collaboration. As different countries and companies develop their unique AI models, there’s potential for sharing knowledge, research, and technology to further enhance AI capabilities globally.

In essence, the flurry of activity in the AI sector, particularly around large language models, is not just a trend but a reflection of the growing importance of AI in our global society. It indicates a future where AI is not only ubiquitous but also diverse, inclusive, and culturally aware.