Microsoft on Tuesday launched a lightweight artificial intelligence model, aiming to broaden its client base with cost-effective solutions.
The new version called Phi-3-mini is the first of the three small language models (SLM) to be released by the company, as it stakes its future on a technology that is expected to have a wide-ranging impact on the world and the way people work.
“Phi-3 is not slightly cheaper, it’s dramatically cheaper, we’re talking about a 10x cost difference compared to the other models out there with similar capabilities,” said Sébastien Bubeck, Microsoft’s vice president of GenAI research.
SLMs are designed to perform simpler tasks, making it easier for use by companies with limited resources, the company said.
Phi-3-mini will be available immediately on Microsoft cloud service platform Azure’s AI model catalog, machine learning model platform Hugging Face, and Ollama, a framework for running models on a local machine, the company said.
Microsoft recently invested $1.5 billion in UAE-based AI firm G42, furthering its commitment to AI innovation. Additionally, it collaborated with French startup Mistral AI to offer their models on Azure.
Furthermore, Microsoft’s commitment to democratizing AI is evident in the accessibility of the Lightweight AI Model. This model streamlines operations, making AI accessible to businesses regardless of technical proficiency. Consequently, organizations can leverage AI for enhanced productivity and innovation.
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