Meta and AWS Launch $12 Million Initiative to Boost AI Development with Llama Model

Meta and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have announced a partnership aimed at encouraging more developers to build applications using Meta’s Llama AI model. The initiative will offer 30 US startups six months of technical support from engineers at both companies and $200,000 in AWS cloud computing credits each. This collaboration is expected to be unveiled at the AWS Summit in New York City. For Meta, this partnership could enhance its position in the AI sector, especially as CEO Mark Zuckerberg invests heavily in AI. Amazon’s investment, totaling over $6 million, could benefit if the startups continue to use AWS’s services post-program. The partnership emphasizes supporting Llama, an open-source AI model, fostering an environment where startups can innovate using accessible AI technology. The selection of startups will be based on the potential impact of their proposed solutions and the technical capabilities of their teams. This initiative reflects a broader industry debate on the merits of open-source versus closed-source AI models, with Meta advocating for the democratization of AI technology.