Qwen-1.5 72B: China’s AI Juggernaut Defeats Mistral
China’s AI advancements continue to impress with the release of Qwen 1.5, a 72 billion parameter model that rivals top Western AI models like GPT-4 and Mistral 7B. Developed by Alibaba, Qwen 1.5 showcases China’s ability to produce cutting-edge AI technology despite restrictions on accessing the latest Nvidia GPUs. The video by Ai Flux delves into the model’s capabilities, training data, and performance.
1. **Introduction**: The presenter discusses China’s unique approach to AI research and the significant volume of research output from Chinese institutions, highlighting the challenges posed by global restrictions on Nvidia GPUs.
2. **Model Overview**: Qwen 1.5 is introduced as a versatile model with 32 different versions, ranging from a massive 72 billion parameter model to smaller models that can run on mobile devices. The model is designed for better alignment and multilingual support, with a focus on long context lengths.
3. **Training Data**: The model is trained on recent data, up to May 2023, ensuring it remains relevant and capable. The training data includes a mix of Chinese and English sources, which helps in its multilingual capabilities.
4. **Function Calling**: Qwen 1.5 excels in function calling, a feature that allows the model to perform repetitive tasks efficiently. This capability is particularly strong even in the smaller models, making it suitable for various applications.
5. **Running on Apple MLX**: The video highlights that Qwen 1.5 can run efficiently on Apple MLX, showcasing its flexibility and performance on different hardware setups.
6. **HuggingFace Demo**: A live demo on HuggingFace demonstrates the model’s capabilities, including its ability to handle complex queries and provide detailed responses. The demo also shows the model’s performance in generating trade-related advice.
7. **Closing Thoughts**: The video concludes with a discussion on the geopolitical implications of China’s open-source AI advancements and the potential impact of upcoming US restrictions on Chinese access to cloud-based GPUs.
Qwen 1.5’s release marks a significant milestone in the global AI race, showcasing China’s ability to compete at the highest levels of AI research and development.