"Llama 2: The New Open LLM SOTA (ft. Nathan Lambert, Matt Bornstein, Anton Troynikov, Russell Kaplan, Whole Mars Catalog et al.)" meets "Dogfooding: How Putting Yourself in the User’s Shoes Changes the Way You See Your Product"

"Llama 2: The New Open LLM SOTA (ft. Nathan Lambert, Matt Bornstein, Anton Troynikov, Russell Kaplan, Whole Mars Catalog et al.)" meets "Dogfooding: How Putting Yourself in the User’s Shoes Changes the Way You See Your Product"

Introduction:
In the world of AI models, Llama 2 has emerged as a powerful player, outperforming other open-source models in its weight class. However, while Llama 2 pushes the boundaries of state-of-the-art technology, it also highlights a crucial aspect of product development that often goes unnoticed - the need for dogfooding. By combining the insights from Llama 2's advancements and the importance of experiencing a product as a user does, we can unlock a deeper understanding of building successful and user-centric products.

Why are open models important?
Open models, such as Llama 2, have gained significant traction because they offer a level of control that is essential for certain organizations. Businesses, government entities, healthcare providers, and military organizations often deal with sensitive data that cannot be sent to external API providers, even if it is through well-established platforms like OpenAI. In such cases, owning and serving their own models becomes critical. Llama 2 fills this gap, allowing these organizations to leverage the state-of-the-art technology while maintaining total control over their data.

The blind spots in product development:
One common pitfall in product development is losing sight of what it's like to be a new user. As creators, we become so deeply immersed in our own experiences that we forget what it's like to start using our products for the first time. This oversight makes it easier to overlook issues that might be glaringly obvious to an outsider. To combat this, it is crucial to regularly put ourselves in the shoes of our users. By signing up for our own service with a new account every few months, we can stay up-to-date on the user experience and continuously remind ourselves that there is always room for improvement.

Gaining customer empathy:
Customer empathy is the key to building successful and user-centric products. It involves looking outside of ourselves and experiencing the product from the perspective of our users, without the luxury of debugging tools or direct access to engineers. It is about understanding that our users may not have the same level of knowledge or understanding that we do. To truly empathize, we must consider factors such as technological limitations, different cultural contexts, and varying levels of access to resources. By doing so, we can ensure that our products cater to a diverse range of users and do not exclude anyone from the equation.

Broadening our perspectives:
Sometimes, we fall into the trap of assuming that the world is made up of people just like us. However, the reality is far more diverse. Our perspectives are often shaped by our surroundings, the technology we use, and the challenges we encounter in our daily lives. By practicing dogfooding, we can gain valuable insights into how our products impact people who are different from us. This broader perspective enables us to identify potential pitfalls and challenges that we may have overlooked, ultimately leading to more inclusive and effective solutions.

Actionable advice:

1. Embrace open models: If you belong to an organization that deals with sensitive data, consider leveraging open models like Llama 2 to maintain control over your data while benefiting from cutting-edge technology.

2. Practice regular dogfooding: Set a reminder to sign up for your own service with a new account every few months. This will help you experience your product from a fresh perspective and uncover blind spots that may have gone unnoticed.

3. Foster customer empathy: Encourage your team to step into the shoes of your users. By considering the diverse backgrounds, limitations, and needs of your target audience, you can create products that truly resonate with them.

Conclusion:
Llama 2's advancements in the world of AI models highlight the importance of both open-source technology and the practice of dogfooding. By combining the control offered by open models with the insights gained from experiencing a product as a user does, we can create more inclusive, user-centric, and effective solutions. Embracing open models, practicing regular dogfooding, and fostering customer empathy are key steps towards building successful products that cater to a diverse range of users.