Mark Zuckerberg will not launch an advanced version of his artificial intelligence model in the EU, blaming the decision on “unpredictable” behaviour by regulators.
The owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp is preparing to launch its Llama model in a multimodal format, meaning it will be able to work with text, video, images and audio instead of just one format. Llama is an open source model, allowing users to freely download and adapt it.
However, a Meta spokesperson confirmed that the model will not be available in the EU. The decision underlines tensions between big tech and Brussels amid a stricter regulatory environment.
“We will be launching a multimodal Llama model in the coming months, but not in the EU due to the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment,” the spokesperson said.
Brussels is introducing the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, which will come into force next month, while new regulatory requirements for big tech companies are being laid out in the form of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
However, Meta’s decision on the multimodal Llama model is all about GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance. Meta has been ordered to stop training its AI models with posts from Facebook and Instagram users in the EU due to concerns that it may violate privacy rules.
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, which oversees Meta’s compliance with the GDPR, said it was continuing discussions with the company about its training model.
However, Meta is concerned that other EU data watchdogs could intervene in the regulatory process and stop approval. There are text-based versions of Llama in the EU, and a new text-only version is coming soon in the EU, but those models were not trained on data from Meta users in the EU.
The move follows Apple’s announcement last month that it will not launch some of its new AI features in the EU due to concerns about DMA compliance.
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Meta had planned to use its multimodal Llama model in products such as its Ray-Ban smart glasses and in smartphones. Llama’s decision was first reported by Axios.
Meta also announced on Wednesday that it had suspended the use of generative artificial intelligence tools in Brazil after the government raised privacy concerns over the use of user data to train models. The company said it had decided to pause the use of the tools while it held discussions with Brazil’s data authority.
