A new approach to AI model training could disrupt the centralized power structure that has dominated artificial intelligence development. By using distributed computing across regular GPUs connected via the internet, two startups have demonstrated an alternative path that might challenge the resource-intensive model building methods that currently give tech giants their competitive edge in AI development.
The big picture: Researchers from Flower AI and Vana have successfully trained a language model called Collective-1 using GPUs spread across the globe rather than concentrated in datacenters.
- This distributed approach allowed them to incorporate both public and private data sources, including messages from X, Reddit, and Telegram provided by Vana.
- Though modest at 7 billion parameters compared to hundreds of billions in cutting-edge models like ChatGPT, this proof-of-concept demonstrates a potentially transformative approach to AI development.
Why this matters: The current AI landscape is dominated by companies with access to massive computing resources in centralized datacenters, creating high barriers to entry.
- Distributed model training could democratize AI development by eliminating the need for organizations to own or rent expensive GPU clusters connected via specialized networking.
- This shift might enable smaller players to build competitive AI systems without the capital requirements that currently favor tech giants.
What’s next: Flower AI is already scaling up its distributed approach with ambitious plans for larger models.
- The company is currently training a 30 billion parameter model using conventional data sources.
- According to Nic Lane, computer scientist at Cambridge University and Flower AI cofounder, they plan to train a 100 billion parameter model later this year—approaching the scale of industry-leading systems.
The bottom line: While still early in development, this distributed training methodology represents a potential inflection point in how AI systems are built, potentially reshaping industry power dynamics by lowering the technical and financial barriers to advanced AI development.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...