Meta has announced the launch of Llama 3.1 405B, a groundbreaking 405 billion parameter model, marking it as the largest open-source AI system ever created. This new model, which significantly expands upon the previously released Llama 3 series introduced in April, represents a monumental leap in AI technology.
Described by Meta as being "in a class of its own," the Llama 3.1 405B offers a powerful foundation for applications such as multilingual conversational agents and long-form text summarization. The model also features an updated Stack API, designed to facilitate its integration into various use cases.
Meta anticipates that this massive model will enable the AI research community to explore innovative workflows, including synthetic data generation and model distillation, further advancing the field of artificial intelligence.
CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz is set to testify before Congress regarding a global IT outage triggered by a recent software update. The outage, which affected Microsoft Windows systems worldwide, led to significant disruptions, including grounded airlines and locked-out business systems displaying the "Blue Screen of Death."
Lawmakers from the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection have requested detailed explanations of the incident and the measures CrowdStrike is implementing to prevent future occurrences. The testimony will address concerns about the impact on the American public and the response to the technical glitch.
Israeli startup CytoReason has raised $80 million to advance its AI-powered platform for disease modeling and drug discovery. Founded in 2016, CytoReason specializes in creating computational disease models to aid in predictive therapeutics. The funding, backed by Nvidia, Pfizer, OurCrowd, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, will be used to expand the platform's capabilities and increase its repository of molecular and clinical data.
The investment aims to accelerate CytoReason's growth and enhance its tools for researchers seeking new treatments for various diseases.
Anthropic, the AI developer behind Claude and backed by Amazon, has teamed up with Menlo Ventures to launch a $100 million fund targeting AI startups. Named the Anthology Fund, it will support next-generation AI ventures from seed to expansion stages with investments starting at $100,000.
Startups selected for the fund will also receive $25,000 in Anthropic credits, regular consultations with Anthropic and Menlo Ventures leaders, and opportunities to showcase their work at biannual demo days hosted by Anthropic president Daniela Amodei and other partners.
In an op-ed, Rahul Kalia, IBM Consulting Services’ managing partner for the U.K. and Ireland, discusses the need for business leaders to balance caution with boldness when adopting AI technologies. Kalia emphasizes the importance of letting go of outdated practices and embracing new possibilities to effectively integrate AI into business strategies.
These updates reflect the rapid advancements and diverse applications of AI technology across various sectors, underscoring the ongoing evolution of the industry.
