Small is Beautiful: Find out what SLMs can do for you
Register Now!
The MERL Tech Initiative is once again offering our course on Small Language Models (SLMs). Join us in September for a hands-on workshop led by experts Cathy Richards and Jonas Norén.
Who is this course for?
Large, resource-intensive, general-purpose AI models are causing harm to the environment, the climate, and communities around the globe. Small language models, built in purposeful and controlled ways and managed with thoughtful design, are now a viable alternative. Requiring fewer computational resources, they can lead to faster processing, increased possibilities on smaller devices, more privacy and security, and they can be tailored to you and your tasks! Several potent small models are readily available for many tasks, and they are getting more powerful with time.
This course is for professionals in social impact, international development, and humanitarian work who want to explore using SLMs in their work. In Introduction to SLMs, participants will gain an understanding of how they’re made, understand the benefits, discover how the concept of “open” manifests within SLMs, and leave with a working installation of an SLM to use in their day-to-day work. In Diving Deeper, participants will learn how to develop systems.
Format, dates, and fees
Course sessions are held via Zoom, with breaks, discussion time, and guided hands-on practice. For this course, we are offering two different packages: “Introduction to SLMs” (with two online modules) and “Diving Deeper into SLMs” (which adds a third, more advanced module).
Package 1: “Introduction to SLMs”
This is a two-module course that will help participants better understand the small language model space and leave with a standard working implementation on their computers.
The sessions are happening on September 3rd and 10th
9-11am ET / 2-4PM CET.
Fees:
Participants from HIC (High-Income Countries): 300 USD
Participants from LMIC (Low and Middle Income Countries): 150 USD
Package 2: “Introduction to SLMs + Diving Deeper into SLMs”
In addition to the two introductory modules, this package includes a third module for participants who want to further customize their models and create systems around them. Participants will need to fill out a short form for review by instructors to ensure that they will benefit from the course.
The sessions are happening on September 3rd and 10th, 9-11am ET / 2-4PM CET, and on September 17, 9-11am ET / 3-5pm CET
Fees:
Participants from HIC (High-Income Countries): 400 USD
Participants from LMIC (Low and Middle Income Countries): 200 USD
We offer a limited number of scholarships and group discounts for members of the same organization who are taking the course together. Please reach out via email to learn more.
Requirements
- Participants will need:
- A stable internet connection, a laptop with Zoom access and camera-on capability,
- Ideally, a computer with at least 16GB of memory and 20 GB of hard drive space (please reach out if you have doubts!)
- A basic understanding of Large Language Models and Generative AI.
- Ability to download free software and open-source language models on your computer
- You will have the opportunity to flag any accessibility requirements on the application form.
- To make sure everyone is able to follow the sessions, optional pre-readings will be provided a week before the workshop.
If you…
- …are curious about bespoke AI models;
- …would like your AI use to have a smaller environmental footprint;
- …care about privacy and are mindful of (and limited by) what you can put into Large Language Models;
- …want to be able to use and work with language models when not connected to the internet
- … if you feel that the costs for online models are too expensive.
Then this course might be for you!
Meet the trainers
Cathy Richards (she/her) is a technologist who helps activists, organizations, and other social change agents make the most of data and technology in order to increase their impact. She is currently a technologist and a Civic Science Fellow & Data & Technology Lead at Open Environmental Data Project. She taught Metrics & Data Visualization at SVA, is a co-founder at Pueblo CoLab – a collaborative that creates tech and data processes for the social sector, and has also worked at GitLab, The Engine Room, and Keystone Accountability. Cathy is MTI’s lead on AI and Environment and supports operations as well.
Jonas Norén (he/him) is the Chief Executive Officer at dav|consulting. With extensive experience in research, evaluation, capacity development, and statistics, he has worked within the fields of democracy, human rights, SME-development, emerging markets, complex markets, and democratic governance. Jonas thrives on open-source solutions and the potential for automation of mundane processes using state-of-the-art technology. He is one of the co-leads of the Sandbox Working Group at the NLP-CoP.
Please be sure to read our cancellation and refund policy here.
Interested in other training opportunities at the intersection of AI, development & humanitarian work, and MERL? Check out MTI’s offering here.