Microsoft Introduces Smaller, Cheaper A.I. Models to Make Technology More Accessible
In the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence development, bigger has always been considered better. However, tech companies are now shifting their focus to smaller A.I. technologies that are more affordable and accessible to a wider range of customers.
On Tuesday, Microsoft unveiled three new smaller A.I. models as part of their Phi-3 technology family. These models, while not as powerful as their larger counterparts, are significantly more cost-effective. In fact, even the smallest Phi-3 model performs almost as well as the much larger GPT-3.5 system that powered OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot.
What sets these smaller models apart is their ability to fit on a smartphone and run on regular computer chips, making them usable even without an internet connection. This accessibility is a game-changer for customers who may have found larger A.I. systems too expensive to implement.
While the smaller models may not be as precise or accurate as their larger counterparts, Microsoft and other tech companies are confident that customers will be willing to trade off some performance for affordability. This opens up a world of possibilities for industries like online advertising, where A.I. can be used to target ads more effectively.
By introducing these smaller, more affordable A.I. models, Microsoft is paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible future for artificial intelligence technology. As Gil Luria, an analyst at D.A. Davidson, puts it, making these systems smaller and cheaper will not only make them faster but also significantly more affordable for a wider range of users.
