The Power of Open Models and Unread Books

The Power of Open Models and Unread Books

In this article, we will explore two seemingly unrelated concepts: the advancements in open models, specifically Llama 2, and the concept of building an antilibrary with unread books. While these topics may appear distinct, they share common threads that highlight the value of exploration, curiosity, and personal growth.

Llama 2: The New Open LLM SOTA

Llama 2 has emerged as a groundbreaking open source model that outperforms its counterparts in the same weight class. This is significant because there are numerous businesses and organizations that cannot afford to compromise the security of their sensitive data by relying on external API providers. Llama 2 offers a solution by enabling users to own and serve their own models, granting them total control over their data.

The importance of open models lies in their ability to democratize access to cutting-edge technology. While external API providers like OpenAI through Azure offer powerful models, there are instances where data privacy and security concerns prevail. Llama 2 pushes the boundaries of what is possible in terms of state-of-the-art models, providing users with their own GPT3.5-quality model, albeit not reaching the levels of Claude 2 or GPT-4. This development allows a wider range of organizations to harness the power of AI without compromising their data integrity.

Building an Antilibrary: The Power of Unread Books

The concept of an antilibrary, popularized by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, introduces the idea that unread books can be as valuable as the ones we have read. In fact, an antilibrary is not just a collection of books waiting to be read; it is a highly curated resource that reflects our curiosity and desire for knowledge.

The goal of an antilibrary is not to display books we have already read, but rather to embrace the unknown and cultivate a collection of resources that align with our interests and curiosities. By acknowledging our conscious ignorance, as James Clerk Maxwell once stated, we create the conditions for real scientific and personal growth. An antilibrary becomes a research tool, a humble relationship with knowledge that allows us to continuously expand our perspectives.

To effectively build an antilibrary, we can adopt a few actionable strategies. First, when reading a book, make note of all relevant references mentioned by the author. This creates a list of sources that can be explored further once the book is finished, enriching our understanding and opening new avenues of exploration.