DeepSeek-R1, BLOOM and Falcon AI: Exploring lesser-known open source LLMs

DeepSeek-R1, BLOOM and Falcon AI: Exploring lesser-known open source LLMs

When it comes to oft-used AI tools, all we largely know about are the usual suspects like ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot. However, unsurprisingly, several open-source large language models (LLMs) have emerged, offering unique features and capabilities that set them apart from some of the more popular LLMs out there. 

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Among these, DeepSeek-R1, BLOOM, and Falcon have garnered attention for their distinct approaches and contributions to AI applications. Beyond Meta’s Llama and Mistral AI, let’s take a closer look at each of these open-source LLMs and understand how they’re pushing the boundaries of AI possibilities.

DeepSeek-R1: Pioneering a new kind of LLM

Developed by the Chinese AI firm DeepSeek, DeepSeek-R1 represents a significant advancement in the field of reasoning models. Unlike traditional LLMs that rely heavily on supervised learning, DeepSeek-R1 was trained using pure reinforcement learning (RL). 

This approach enables the model to evolve its reasoning capabilities through trial and error, without the need for extensive labeled datasets. Notably, DeepSeek-R1 has demonstrated performance on par with, and in some cases surpassing, OpenAI’s o1 model on benchmarks such as the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) and MATH.

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The open-source nature of DeepSeek-R1 allows researchers and developers to access and build upon its architecture, fostering innovation in AI reasoning applications. Its proficiency in logical inference and problem-solving makes it suitable for tasks requiring deep analytical capabilities, such as complex mathematical computations and strategic decision-making processes.

BLOOM: A multilingual open-source AI

BLOOM (BigScience Large Open-science Open-access Multilingual Language Model) is a 176-billion-parameter transformer-based LLM developed through a collaboration of over 1,000 researchers from more than 70 countries. Apart from being a real mouthful, it’s trained on 366 billion tokens encompassing 46 natural and 13 programming languages. Therefore, BLOOM is specifically designed to generate coherent text across diverse linguistic contexts.

One of BLOOM’s standout features is its ability to perform zero-shot and few-shot learning, enabling it to handle tasks it wasn’t explicitly trained on by interpreting them as text generation problems. This versatility has led to its adoption in various commercial applications, including content creation, translation services, and code generation. 

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By providing an open-access model, BLOOM democratises AI research and development, allowing a broader range of organizations to leverage advanced language modeling capabilities.

Falcon: Flying high in the AI sky

The Falcon series, developed by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi, comprises LLMs with 7B, 40B, and 180B parameters. Notably, Falcon-180B was trained on over 3.5 trillion tokens, making it one of the largest openly documented pre-training datasets as far as open-source LLMs are concerned. This extensive training has enabled Falcon-180B to achieve state-of-the-art results across various natural language processing tasks, rivaling models like PaLM-2-Large.

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In January 2025, Falcon 3 is supposed to get even better than the previous two versions of the LLM in the past. Falcon’s open-source availability under the Apache 2.0 license has facilitated its integration into commercial applications, including chatbots, virtual assistants, and automated content generation tools. Its high performance and accessibility make it a valuable resource for companies seeking to implement advanced AI solutions without the constraints of proprietary models.

It’s abundantly clear that the world of AI is advancing at a rapid pace, where DeepSeek-R1, BLOOM, and Falcon exemplify the innovative strides being made in the realm of open-source LLMs. Each model brings unique strengths – be it DeepSeek-R1’s reinforcement learning-based reasoning, BLOOM’s multilingual proficiency, or Falcon’s state-of-the-art performance – contributing significantly to the advancement and democratization of AI technologies.

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Jayesh Shinde

Jayesh Shinde

Executive Editor at Digit. Technology journalist since Jan 2008, with stints at Indiatimes.com and PCWorld.in. Enthusiastic dad, reluctant traveler, weekend gamer, LOTR nerd, pseudo bon vivant. View Full Profile

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