Is Mistral 7B really the best model? (A First Look)

Mistral 7B the best 7B model to date.

A groundbreaking newcomer has recently graced the scene — Mistral AI’s Mistral 7B. With a background steeped in the brilliance of ex-Meta and DeepMind employees, this fledgling company has taken the AI world by storm, and the world can’t help but take notice.

But what sets Mistral 7B apart from the crowd? In this article, we’ll explore its potential and impact.

A Model for the Masses

Mistral 7B introduces itself with an enticing proposition — an Apache 2.0 licensing structure. This means that everyone, from educators to businesses, can harness the power of this model for their specific needs. It marks a significant milestone as one of the largest open-source models of its scale.

Performance that Shatters Boundaries

The size of an AI model is a key factor. But Mistral 7B challenges this notion head-on. The model is primed for low-latency text categorization, summarization, text, and code completion. Its creators boldly claim to outshine even the colossal 13 billion-parameter Llama 2 model on all benchmarks.

And, Mistral 7B doesn’t just beat the 13 billion-parameter model but also towers over the Llama 27 billion model and the massive Llama 134 billion model. This extraordinary feat is achieved with only 7.3 billion parameters. This is not just an improvement; it’s a paradigm shift in AI model design.

A Closer Look at the Magic Behind Mistral

The secret sauce behind Mistral’s brilliance lies in its unique features. It attributes its faster inference time to “grouped query attention” and its ability to handle longer sequences without incurring exorbitant costs, thanks to “sliding window attention.”

Accessible AI: How to Use Mistral 7B

Now that we’ve established Mistral 7B’s prowess let’s explore how you can leverage its capabilities. Two accessible options emerge: Ollama and Hugging Face.

Ollama offers a user-friendly way to run large language models locally. With a simple download, you can unleash Mistral’s power on your laptop. Asking questions, seeking recommendations, or even engaging in casual conversation becomes as easy as typing a query.

Hugging Face, a renowned platform for AI models, offers an even more convenient approach. With a pre-released version of Mistral 7B, you can readily incorporate it into your projects. Detailed documentation guides you through the process, ensuring a seamless experience.

For instance, you can use the Instruct version for chat purposes, providing prompts to elicit responses. Whether it’s solving mathematical problems or asking whimsical questions like “If all the trees in the world could talk, what would they say?” — Mistral 7B can handle it all with remarkable finesse.

The Future Awaits

Mistral 7B’s arrival is not just a technological leap; it’s a democratization of AI. It empowers individuals, businesses, and researchers to harness the potential of a high-quality model, leveling the playing field in the world of artificial intelligence.

So, what are your thoughts on Mistral 7B?