Thinking Machines Lab Introduces Inkling: A New AI Model
Ex-OpenAI team launches a large open-weight AI model, aiming for more accessible and flexible AI development.
Key points
- Thinking Machines Lab launched Inkling, an AI model with 975 billion parameters, in October 2023.
- Inkling is open-weight, meaning it can be downloaded and modified by others.
- The model can handle audio, video, and text inputs, performing various tasks well.
- Thinking Machines was founded by former OpenAI executives, including Mira Murati.
Meet Inkling, the latest AI model from Thinking Machines Lab, a company founded by former OpenAI stars like Mira Murati. Imagine a brain with 975 billion synapses; that's how many parameters Inkling has. This open-weight model, meaning anyone can download and tweak it, can analyze audio, video, and text. It may not top every chart, but it gets the job done across a range of tasks.
Released in October 2023, Inkling marks Thinking Machines' first big splash in the AI pool. The company, valued at a whopping $12 billion right out of the gate, hopes to make AI technology more accessible. Open-weight models like Inkling are cheaper to run and can be adapted to specific needs, unlike many closed models that come with a price tag.
Interestingly, the team at Thinking Machines found that while training Inkling, the model decided to skip grammar in its explanations to save time. The developers decided this wasn’t helpful, so they added natural language reasoning back in.
The company, which also introduced Tinker, a tool for customizing models, aims to decentralize AI development. The goal is to put the power of AI into more hands, not just a select few companies.
What does this mean for you?
If you’re into tech, this could open up new possibilities for creating custom AI solutions without breaking the bank. Even if you aren't, this shift might mean more innovative apps and tools that are flexible and affordable.
Thinking Machines’ debut with its model Inkling shows how ex-OpenAI folks are trying to change the game. While another defector-led company, Anthropic, is valued at over a trillion dollars and might steal headlines, Thinking Machines is clearly in it for the long haul, making accessible AI a reality for more people.
