Meta Expands Llama AI Access To U.S. Government and Defense Partners - 1

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Meta Expands Llama AI Access To U.S. Government and Defense Partners

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • Meta is making its Llama AI model available to U.S. national security agencies.
  • Meta’s AI “acceptable use policy” restricts military use but allows U.S. defense access.
  • Llama access extends to Five Eyes countries: U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.

Meta has announced on Monday it will make its open-source AI model, Llama, available to U.S. government agencies, and contractors focused on national security.

Bloomberg noted that although Meta’s AI models are open source and freely available to developers, the company’s “acceptable use policy” prohibits their use in projects related to “military, warfare, nuclear industries or applications, [and] espionage,” among other areas.

However, Meta is making an exception for U.S. defense agencies and their contractors, aiming to expand its presence in the public sector and strengthen Llama’s role in the fast-growing AI arms race, as noted by Bloomberg.

These partnerships will enable government bodies to leverage Llama’s capabilities for a variety of applications, from defense operations to public service improvements.

Specific projects underscore Llama’s versatility in tackling complex, data-intensive tasks. For example, Oracle is integrating Llama to streamline aircraft maintenance, aiming to improve diagnostic precision and reduce repair times.

Scale AI is adapting Llama to aid national security teams in mission planning and assessing vulnerabilities. Lockheed Martin has embedded Llama within its AI Factory, supporting code generation and data analysis, which enhances both military and business processes.

Meta says that leading cloud service providers like AWS and Microsoft are hosting Llama in secure environments to safeguard sensitive data. IBM’s watsonx is another key player, offering Llama’s capabilities in self-managed data centers for defense applications.

Strategically, open-source AI is positioned to strengthen the U.S. in the global AI competition, as nations like China make substantial investments in similar technologies. Meta emphasized the critical need for the U.S. to lead in this rapidly advancing field.

The Verge points out that Chinese researchers recently used Meta’s Llama 2 model to develop an AI system for China’s military. In response, a Meta spokesperson told Reuters that using an outdated version of an American open-source model is insignificant, given China’s trillion-dollar investment to overtake the U.S. in AI.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that Llama is also being made available to government agencies and contractors in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries, along with the U.S., are part of the intelligence-sharing alliance known as Five Eyes.

Forbes points out that Meta’s open-source approach to AI sets it apart from competitors like OpenAI and Google, who prioritize closed ecosystems for commercial gain. By keeping Llama open-source, Meta enables greater customization and flexibility for enterprises.

French Startup Alan Launches AI Assistant For its Clients - 2

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French Startup Alan Launches AI Assistant For its Clients

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • Alan launched an AI assistant called Mo for its 680,000 users
  • Patients will get AI answers and feedback from real doctors within just a few minutes
  • French unicorn Alan recently reached a $4.5B valuation.

Alan, the French startup specializing in health insurance, announced this morning multiple product updates during a conference, including a new AI assistant called Mo.

According to TechCrunch , Alan has been using advanced technology for its services to go beyond insurance coverage, like a feature that allows clients to ask a doctor a question and get an answer in about 15 minutes, and now the company is taking leverage of the AI boom—understanding the risks in the health industry.

“Mo rephrases my question, introduces itself, and asks if I want to start with Mo or if I want to talk to a doctor,” said Alan’s AI lead Antoine Lizée. Users have the option and Alan explained that doctors would still review the content provided by the AI within just a few minutes. The health professionals will be able to correct or include more advice, and patients will get feedback on the response to their queries.

The startup is allowing Mo to reach its 680,000 users and will make improvements depending on the interactions and user experience.

“This is just the beginning. Our vision for Mo goes beyond that. Our vision is to make it a health companion that understands your context and your health history,” Lizée said.

During the conference, Alan also revealed new features like an online shop with multiple products, like supplements and baby-related goods, and a gamification feature to fight sedentary lifestyles, Alan Walk, to track steps and unlock berries (game tokens) for prizes.

Alan is one of the top French unicorns in the health industry. The startup recently raised €173 million and reached a $4.5B valuation .