French AI startup Mistral recently launched its newest model, Pixtral 12B, which can process both images and text. This 12-billion-parameter model, available on platforms like GitHub and Hugging Face, has sparked interest in the AI and machine learning community.
Pixtral 12B, built on Mistral’s text model Nemo 12B, has the capability to answer questions related to images. The model can process images of varying sizes and quantities, whether provided as URLs or encoded in base64 format. With its large number of parameters, the model is expected to perform well in tasks like image captioning and object counting.
One major drawback highlighted in the article is the lack of available web demos for Pixtral 12B at the time of publication. This raises questions about the actual performance and usability of the model in real-world scenarios. Without practical demonstrations, the claims of the model’s capabilities remain unverified.
The article does not provide clarity on the source of image data used to train Pixtral 12B. Given the controversy surrounding the use of public data for training AI models, it is essential for Mistral to be transparent about its data collection practices. The legal implications of using copyrighted data for model development could potentially tarnish the reputation of the company.
Mistral’s recent funding round of $645 million, led by General Catalyst, has positioned the company as a significant player in the AI industry. However, the article hints at a questionable business strategy, where Mistral offers free “open” models but charges for managed versions and consulting services. This approach may raise concerns among potential customers about the long-term sustainability of Mistral’s offerings.
Mistral’s Pixtral 12B model presents a mix of promise and skepticism within the AI community. While the technical capabilities of the model seem impressive on paper, the lack of practical demonstrations and transparency about data usage raise doubts about its real-world applicability. As Mistral aims to compete with established players like OpenAI, addressing these concerns and building trust among users will be crucial for the success of Pixtral 12B and future models.