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Facebook parent Meta isteaming upwithHugging FaceandEuropean cloud base company Scalewayto launch a Modern AI - focus startup programme at theStation F startup megacampusin Paris .
The underlying goal of the computer program is to promote a more “ open and collaborative ” coming to AI development across the French applied science world .
The timing of the announcement is notable , coming amid a growing thrust for regulation and a marked conflict between the “ open ” and “ shut ” AI realms .
Many of the major tech company , include Microsoft , Google and ChatGPT - developer OpenAI , are arguing for more regularization and monition of the existential threat posed by AI , even though they are at the same time developing powerful AI technologies themselves . Some of these arguments plaza on the peril of open informant AI , and how it could be manipulated by bad histrion . On the other side of the debate is the whimsey that these tech companies are just scaremongering to force governor into support a more “ closed ” AI development ethos , ultimately protecting themselves from competition .
Meta is very much in the latter camp . Last hebdomad , the company ’s chief AI scientist Yann LeCunjoined more than 70 other signatory in calling for more openness in AI development , warning against too much regulative haste .
“ account shows us that quickly speed towards the wrong kind of regulation can lead to concentrations of power in direction that hurt competition and invention , ” the varsity letter noted . “ overt models can inform an open debate and improve policy making . If our objectives are safety , security and answerableness , then openness and transparency are indispensable ingredients to get us there . ”
And it ’s against that backdrop that Meta is teaming up with one of the big players in the open root AI space .
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While Meta itselfhas beenopen sourcingits own generative AI poser , Hugging Face — abillion - dollar VC - gage startup in its own right — has set out its stall as a sort ofopen source alternate to OpenAI , instinct with open alternatives to the likes of ChatGPT and spearheadingcommunity projects such as BigScience .
So in many way , Meta and Hugging Face ’s necktie - up today make a not bad spate of sense , give their respective posture on the whole “ unresolved ” versus “ unsympathetic ” AI discussion .
“ For me , undefended source AI is the most significant issue of the decade as it is the foundation toward democratize ethical AI , ” Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue said in a statement .
Open foundation
From today through December 1 ( 2023 ) , startupscan applyto join the fresh “ AI Startup Program ” at Station F , with five success proceeding to the accelerator program that will run from January to June . The chosen startup , selected by a control panel of judges from Meta , Hugging Face and Gallic cloud companyScaleway , will have at least one matter in common — they will be work on projects substantively construct on open base modelling , or at the very least can demonstrate a “ willingness to incorporate these models into their products and table service , ” accord to the declaration issued by Meta today .
“ With the proliferation of foot fashion model and generative artificial intelligence models , the aim is to bring the economical and technical benefit of open , state - of - the - artwork models to the French ecosystem , ” the announcement take note .
It ’s slightly notable that Meta has chosen to sidestep the major cloud infrastructure companies — and open reservoir AI naysayers — such as Microsoft and Google , instead opting to partner with a smaller , autonomous European player in the form of Scaleway .
Indeed , the winning startup will receive mentoring from researchers and engineers at Meta , gain access to Hugging Face ’s various chopine and tool , and reckon resource from Scaleway .
While it would beincorrect to say that Meta has yield upon its lofty metaverse ambition , much has vary in the past 12 months . Almost on the nose a yr ago , Meta teamed up with L’Oréal and Gallic business school HEC tolaunch a startup acceleratorat Station F focused on all - things VR / AR / MR . But withthe ChatGPTandgenerative AI hypetraingaining steam , Metahas had to refocus its effortson something a little more close - terminus , which is where this new particle accelerator syllabus figure the fray .
