You could almost call it too much of a good thing. AI models have gone open source -- en masse -- to the tune of millions now competing for a place in our applications. There are echoes of the open sourcing of vital enterprise software and tools, with the opening of operating systems, databases, development platforms, and utilities at no cost. There is a difference this time, however. The AI world has virtually exploded into a mind-blowing array of models that handle everything from neural networks to risk-management tools.
Privacy-focused consumer tech company DuckDuckGo launched a subscription plan last year that bundled a VPN service, personal information removal, and identity theft restoration. The company said Thursday that the subscription now gives users access to the latest AI models through Duck.ai without paying extra. The Duck.ai chatbot is free to use, and users get access to models like Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Haiku, Meta's Llama 4 Scout, Mistral AI's Mistral Small 3 24B, and OpenAI's GPT-4o mini.
The premium plan called ChatGPT Plus guarantees access during blackout periods and includes access to OpenAI's most advanced models, making it attractive for superusers.
OpenAI's GPT-5 model marks a significant upgrade in coding and creative writing. However, it still lacks crucial elements needed for true AGI, including continuous learning.
The mannequin representing Claude 3 Sonnet lay on a stage in the center of the room, draped in lightweight mesh fabric and adorned with a black thigh-high sock marked with the word "fuck". Attendees laid offerings of flowers, colorful feathers, a bottle of ranch, and a 3D-printed sign at its feet.
According to Anthropic's commercial terms of service, customers are barred from using the service to 'build a competing product or service, including to train competing AI models' or 'reverse engineer or duplicate' the services.
A group of anonymous Github contributors sued Open AI and Microsoft, claiming their LLMs generated new code snippets similar to theirs but stripped of copyright management information.
At the TechCrunch Sessions: AI event, experts emphasized that while the rapid evolution of AI models poses challenges for startups, it simultaneously opens unprecedented opportunities for founders.
"We really are just trying to enable our customers who are going to sustainably be working with us in the future," said Kaplan during an onstage interview.