## What is Llama?
Llama is a flagship generative AI model developed by Meta, the big tech company formerly known as Facebook. Unlike other major models in the industry, Llama is unique in that it is “open,” allowing developers to download and use it as they please, with certain limitations. This sets it apart from models like Anthropic’s Claude, OpenAI’s GPT-4o (which powers ChatGPT), and Google’s Gemini, which can only be accessed via APIs.
To provide developers with more options, Meta has also partnered with vendors such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure to offer cloud-hosted versions of Llama. Additionally, the company has released tools to facilitate fine-tuning and customization of the model.
## What can Llama do?
Llama is a family of models, consisting of Llama 8B, Llama 70B, and Llama 405B. These models are trained on web pages in various languages, public code and files, as well as synthetic data generated by other AI models. The latest versions, Llama 3.1 8B, Llama 3.1 70B, and Llama 3.1 405B, were released in July 2024.
Llama has a wide range of capabilities and can perform tasks such as coding, answering basic math questions, and summarizing documents in multiple languages. It is particularly well-suited for text-based workloads, such as analyzing PDFs and spreadsheets. However, it cannot process or generate images at this time.
Developers can configure Llama to leverage third-party apps, tools, and APIs to complete tasks. Meta has pre-trained the models to use Brave Search for answering questions about recent events, the Wolfram Alpha API for math and science queries, and a Python interpreter for code validation. The Llama 3.1 models can also utilize certain new tools, although their reliability may vary.
## Where can I use Llama?
If you’re looking to interact with Llama, you can find it powering the Meta AI chatbot experience on platforms such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, Oculus, and Meta.ai.
For developers who want to build with Llama, the model is available for download, use, and fine-tuning on most popular cloud platforms. Meta has partnered with over 25 hosting partners, including Nvidia, Databricks, Groq, Dell, and Snowflake. Some of these partners have developed additional tools and services on top of Llama, allowing the models to reference proprietary data and run at lower latencies.
Meta recommends using the smaller Llama models, such as Llama 8B and Llama 70B, for general-purpose applications like chatbots and code generation. Llama 405B is better suited for model distillation and generating synthetic data to train alternative models.
It’s important to note that the deployment of Llama is subject to a license constraint. App developers with over 700 million monthly users must request a special license from Meta, which the company will grant at its discretion.
Meta also provides tools to enhance the safety of using Llama. These include Llama Guard, a moderation framework; Prompt Guard, a tool to protect against prompt injection attacks; and CyberSecEval, a suite for cybersecurity risk assessment.
## Llama’s limitations
Like all generative AI models, Llama has certain risks and limitations that users should be aware of. For example, it’s unclear whether Meta trained Llama on copyrighted content, which could potentially expose users to infringement liability if they unknowingly use a snippet generated by the model.
Meta has faced controversies regarding the training of its AI models on copyrighted e-books, Instagram and Facebook posts, photos, and captions. Users have found it challenging to opt out of their data being used for training purposes. The company is currently involved in a lawsuit, along with OpenAI, over the alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted data.
When it comes to programming, caution is advised when using Llama or any generative AI model. There is a possibility that Llama may generate buggy or insecure code. It is recommended to have a human expert review any AI-generated code before incorporating it into a service or software.
In conclusion, Llama is a versatile generative AI model developed by Meta. Its open nature and partnerships with cloud vendors provide developers with flexibility in using the model. Llama’s capabilities span various tasks, and it can be utilized on popular platforms. However, users should be mindful of its limitations and potential risks, particularly regarding copyright infringement and code quality.
