5 Interviews Questions for Lin Qiao, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fireworks AI:
Chat with Lin Qiao, CEO of Fireworks AI
Vibe: Straightfo'ward, informal, and tech-savvy vibes as Lin Qiao, co-founder and CEO of Fireworks AI, shares the ins and outs of their generative AI platform for enterprises.
Makaryan: Yo, Lin—what's Fireworks AI all about? And what steered you folks to create this startup?
Qiao: Hey, Martin! Fireworks AI is a game-changer for companies and orgs from various sectors. We're here to supply them generative AI solutions they need to build tailored models and elevate their biz operations. We're not in the business of creating foundation models from scratch, instead, we help clients get their hands on and fine-tune existing ones through our API. That's a win for everyone, as they can tap into over 100 models, including open-source, customized, or big-name ones like Llama-3.
Makaryan: What's the deal with fine-tuning these AI models?
Qiao: Generative AI s’based on foundation models that are trained on all sorts of data and knowledge. While these models may be powerful, they need to be fine-tuned to cater to the specific needs of each business, which is where Fireworks AI comes in. We're not set up as a service provider; instead, we offer the tools enterprises want to use their data for their gain. Our platform lets small companies experiment with models easily and keep costs down, thanks to techniques like limiting large model parameters. We've devised ways to make developing personalized AI models up to 120 times cheaper than competitors, making it possible for enterprises without extensive AI infrastructure to get in on the action.
Makaryan: What puts Fireworks AI on the map as a SaaS platform?
Qiao: Our mission and approach to creating a better, open AI solution for enterprises sets us apart from the crowd. Big names like OpenAI and smaller companies like us share the common goal of solving real-life problems with AI, but we take a different approach. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, we're about tackling various issues with a range of specialized models, each trained on custom curated data to deliver the best results.
Makaryan: How do new AI breakthroughs impact our vision and future?
Qiao: I believe advancements in AI will make us increasingly more relevant and drive demand for custom-built models. AI will fuel innovation, push established players to their limits, and allow new, disruptive ideas to burst onto the scene. As the market changes, platforms like ours will become increasingly important to enterprises seeking to stay afloat and succeed in a cutthroat competitive landscape.
Makaryan: What challenges have you faced as an innovator?
Qiao: Over time, the challenges I've faced have changed drastically—from when I was at Meta to now leading Fireworks AI. The biggest challenge for me now is striking a balance between innovation, which requires agility, and production quality, which demands reliability. In this ever-evolving AI landscape, we need to make tough decisions to ensure we're pushing boundaries with our product while maintaining high standards.
- Lin Qiao, CEO of Fireworks AI, emphasized their goal of supplying enterprises with generative AI solutions that can be fine-tuned using existing models, making automation and innovation more accessible through technology and artificial intelligence.
- Fireworks AI's platform allows small companies to experiment with various AI models easily and cost-effectively, thanks to techniques like limiting large model parameters and offering tools for enterprises to use their data for their benefit.
- Lin Qiao expressed that advancements in AI will accelerate innovation and drive demand for custom-built models, making it crucial for enterprises to adopt platforms like Fireworks AI to stay ahead in a competitive landscape and adapt to the changing market.
