European users have to make do with a “weakened” version of the Meta model Llama 3. Meta is not bringing the multimodal version to Europe because it does not agree with the legislation surrounding AI.
Meta is about to launch a version of Llama 3 with multimodal capabilities. The term “multimodal” means that an LLM can process text and images simultaneously. Meta wants to bring the model to Facebook and Instagram, among others. However, we will never see this version in the EU, nor the Meta Universe chatbot based on this model.
Different opinions on data protection
Meta makes no secret of its disagreement with European AI legislation. In a statement to The Verge, the company justified its decision by citing the “unpredictability of European regulations.” The AI law officially comes into force on August 1 and imposes strict criteria on LLM developers for transparency, copyright and data protection.
The latter is a pipe dream for Meta. To train its AI models, the company began collecting data from European users. You were allowed to object to this, but only if you could endure an imprecise procedure. After resistance from privacy movements, Meta decided to pause its plans.
Open daily, sometimes closed
European companies will not have access to the multimodal model. This is somewhat ironic because, in principle, LLama is an open source LLM. The definition of open source means that everyone has access to a technology. Meta therefore has its own definition of the term.
According to Apple
Meta is not the only one ignoring new AI models and applications in Europe. Apple has no desire to bring Apple Intelligence to the EU for the time being, partly due to dissatisfaction with European legislation. Meta and Apple are only using the fact that they are ignoring hundreds of millions of users to make their point clear.