Meta AI has released quantized versions of the Llama 3.2 models (1B and 3B), which improve inference speed by up to 2-4x and reduce model size by 56%, making advanced AI technology more accessible to a wider range of users.
The article explores how smaller language models like the Meta 1 Billion model can be used for efficient summarization and indexing of large documents, improving the performance and scalability of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems.
Large language models (LLMs) are traditionally used online, but open-weights versions and smaller models are changing that, enabling researchers to run powerful AI tools locally for privacy, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness.
The article provides examples of researchers using local models for various tasks, including:
- Summarizing scientific data and publications
- Generating training data for other models
- Transcribing and summarizing patient interviews
- Designing novel proteins
This paper examines the relationship between Large Language Models (LLMs) and Small Models (SMs), exploring their potential for collaboration and competition in the current landscape dominated by LLMs. It argues that while LLMs have made significant advancements, SMs remain relevant and valuable due to their practicality and efficiency.