Beyond the Parameters: Exploring the Real-World Applications of LLMs

What is Cerebrium?

Michael Louis, the episode's guest, introduces Cerebrium as a platform that deals with abstractions on two levels, specifically focusing on GPUs and scaling for machine learning applications.

The Importance of GPUs in LLMs

• Why are GPUs essential for large language models (LLMs)?
  • GPUs have the capability to handle tens of gigabytes of data, which makes them superior to CPUs for LLM tasks.
• The cost challenge: Running GPUs 24/7 is not feasible due to their high costs.
  • Serverless computing is becoming crucial for making GPU usage affordable.

Financial Considerations

• Generating a million API requests could cost tens of thousands of dollars, highlighting the importance of cost-efficient solutions.
• Enterprise-level solutions could cost a couple of million dollars annually.

Use Cases and Limitations

• Instacart uses specific and fine-tuned models for its operations.
• When customer support bots answer queries, each question processed by a 100-billion parameter model can cost approximately ten cents.
• One of the challenges is latency; the time delay is often too high for practical applications.

The Role of Specialized Chips

• Companies like AWS are developing specialized chips for specific use cases to combat latency and other issues.
• GPT-4 and similar models are opening doors for generative AI and traditional machine learning applications.

The Future: AGI vs. Autonomous Agents

• Autonomous agents and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) differ in their approximations and semantic understanding.
  • AGI is considered the terminal reference for fully self-aware AI, while autonomous agents operate based on defined workflows.

Impact of AI and Ethical Considerations

• Michael Louis aims to make machine learning more accessible for medium-sized enterprises.
• There is a significant challenge in regulating technology that we do not yet fully understand, like cryptocurrency.

Global Perspectives and Social Impact

• Louis discusses the high unemployment rate in South Africa and the importance of understanding the privilege of a job.
• He emphasizes the role of power in making a social impact.

Building B2B Relationships

• In-person relationships are essential for B2B success.
• Louis stresses the need for penetrating network circles for business advantage.

Personal Journey and the Importance of Adaptability

• From his early days in South Africa studying computer science to becoming an entrepreneur, Louis talks about his life journey.
• He shares the experience of selling a startup to Walmart and what led him to his current venture.

Robotics and AI

• Louis believes that context awareness for robotics is the future, citing examples from Boston Dynamics and others.
• He discusses the ethical implications of robots in everyday life and their potential in various fields like space travel and mining.