Will Small Language Models Like Phi-2 be More Dangerous Than Big Ones?

Big Models Can’t Easily be Run Locally, While Small Models Can't…

While viewing a YouTube video discussing recent advancements in compact language models, I was struck by a theoretical notion about those.

This is the YouTube Video I watched:

More Info about phi-2 can be found here: https://huggingface.co/microsoft/phi-2

Such smaller models will enable many more use cases. With possible good use cases, there will also come a lot of challenges.

Running them locally, either on smartphones, PCs, etc., also means they can be tweaked easier by tech-savvy people. 

• Small devices have more power with such models, and they don’t even need a connection to the internet to be run autonomously if small models can behave on small devices or robots. 

The advent of small language models such as Phi-2, developed by Microsoft and available on platforms like Hugging Face, marks a significant milestone in the evolution of AI language processing. 

These compact models, designed to perform complex language tasks, offer a new level of accessibility and flexibility compared to their larger counterparts such as Gemini:

But this convenience raises an important question: Will small language models like Phi-2 be more dangerous than big ones?

Small language models have the distinct advantage of being deployable on a wide range of devices, from smartphones to personal computers, and even on smaller robotic platforms. 

This democratization of AI technology means that advanced language processing can occur at the edge, closer to the end-user, without the need for constant internet connectivity or the computational overhead of cloud-based systems.

However, the ease with which these models can be run locally also introduces potential risks. 

• For one, the ability to operate without internet connectivity means that small language models can function autonomously, potentially without oversight or the usual security measures that accompany cloud-based services. 

• This autonomy could be exploited in various ways, from spreading misinformation to automating phishing attacks at a personal level.

• Furthermore, the fact that tech-savvy individuals can easily tweak these models opens the door to customized use — or misuse — of the technology.

• While big models are typically controlled by large corporations with vested interests in maintaining their reputation and complying with regulations, small models can be modified by anyone with the technical know-how, potentially leading to the creation of harmful or biased AI systems.