1st November 2024, Kathmandu
In a groundbreaking development raising global security concerns, top Chinese research institutions, including those connected to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), have used Meta’s open-source Llama model as a foundation to create an AI tool potentially geared for military applications.
Chinese Researchers Develop Military AI Tool
According to academic papers reviewed by Reuters, researchers from institutions under the PLA’s leading research body, the Academy of Military Science (AMS), have repurposed Meta’s Llama model to develop a specialized AI tool called ChatBIT.
The project utilized Meta’s Llama 2 13B model, released in February 2023, adding custom parameters to tailor it for military intelligence.
The resulting tool, ChatBIT, was designed to assist in intelligence gathering and processing, focusing on providing accurate and reliable data to enhance decision-making in operations.
Meta has promoted openness in its AI models by releasing them publicly, including Llama, but with specific restrictions. Organizations intending to use the model for services impacting more than 700 million users must seek a license from Meta.
China leverages Meta’s Llama AI model for military and security purposes, fueling its AI ambitions and narrowing the tech gap with the U.S., according to recent studies.
For more: Chinese Researchers Develop Military AI Tool