Alibaba and Huawei just launched major AI updates to challenge global rivals. Alibaba Cloud debuted Tongyi Wanxiang, an image generator taking on Midjourney and DALL-E, while Huawei introduced its industrial-focused Pangu 3.0 model targeting freight safety and weather forecasting instead of content creation.
OpenAI just made the GPT-4 API generally available to all paying developers, rolling out the 8K context model right away. It is also sunsetting older completion models by January 4, 2024, pushing everyone toward the structured Chat Completions API that now handles 97% of its GPT traffic.
Baidu just upgraded its foundation model to Ernie 3.5, claiming it beats ChatGPT and GPT 4 on multiple Chinese language benchmark tests. The update also adds plugin support, letting Ernie Bot connect directly to tools like Baidu search. While it still trails OpenAI on English and broad academic tests, Baidu is pushing hard to defend its home turf.
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis revealed that the team is building Gemini, a flagship model designed to surpass OpenAI's GPT-4. By integrating AlphaGo-style reinforcement learning and tree search, DeepMind aims to equip the system with advanced planning and problem-solving skills, taking on ChatGPT directly.
Inflection just took the wraps off Inflection-1, the in-house LLM powering its conversational assistant, Pi. Matching GPT-3.5 in training compute, it shines on common sense and high-school-level test benchmarks, though it still falls behind on coding. The team says a larger model comparable to GPT-4 is already in the oven.
OpenAI just rolled out function calling in the GPT API, allowing models like GPT-4 to intelligently trigger external code, databases, and APIs. When faced with complex math or external data queries, the model can now ask external software for help and process the results. Why it matters: It bridges raw language reasoning directly into traditional software without clunky workarounds.
OpenAI just overhauled its Chat Completions API with native function calling, letting GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 reliably output structured JSON to trigger external tools. The update also introduces a 16k context window for GPT-3.5 Turbo and slashes embedding costs by 75%. Why it matters: developers can now build real-world agents and database workflows without hacking fragile prompts.
Anthropic just expanded Claude’s context window from 9K to 100K tokens, or about 75,000 words. The model can now digest hundreds of pages of documentation, books, or financial reports and synthesize answers in seconds. The 100K context window is available now via Anthropic's API.
Google just unveiled its next-gen PaLM 2 language model at I/O, powering the newly updated Bard and serving as the foundation for the company's latest AI updates. Instead of chasing pure parameter scale, PaLM 2 sharpens logic, math, and support for over 100 languages. It also spawns specialized variants like Codey and Med-PaLM 2, plus a mobile version hitting 20 tokens per second.
Google is reportedly planning to launch its latest large language model, PaLM 2, at its developer conference this week. Internal documents show the model supports over 100 languages with advanced coding and math skills, alongside new generative experiences rolling out to Bard, Search, and Workspace. Why it matters: Google is ramping up its defense against Microsoft and OpenAI by aggressively injecting generative AI across its flagship products.
Russian banking giant Sberbank just unveiled GigaChat, an AI chatbot designed to rival ChatGPT that is currently in closed, invite-only testing. The lender claims its key edge is superior Russian language fluency, coming as Moscow pushes hard to replace foreign tech amid Western sanctions.
OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman took the TED stage to break down the design principles behind ChatGPT, demoing several unreleased plug-ins in the process. He also sat down with TED head Chris Anderson to address the timeline of its creation and the risks of putting such powerful tech into the wild.
Alibaba just unveiled Tongyi Qianwen, its bilingual large language model designed to compete directly with ChatGPT. The company plans to roll out the AI across its entire product lineup, starting with workplace tool DingTalk and smart speaker Tmall Genie. Enterprise clients and developers can also apply for beta access on Alibaba Cloud to fine-tune custom models.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai just revealed that Bard will soon be upgraded to Google's larger PaLM models, bringing sharper reasoning, coding, and math capabilities. Addressing criticism that the bot lags behind rivals, Pichai admitted the initial launch on a lightweight LaMDA was like putting a "souped-up Civic" into a supercar race, but updates are rolling out next week.
