Llama 4 by Meta

Redefining Multimodal AI Through Architectural Innovation

Llama 4

Native multimodality, MoE scalability, and 10M-token context windows set new industry standards

Core Architectural Innovations

Early Fusion Multimodal Backbone
Llama 4 employs text-vision early fusion where raw image pixels (processed through MetaCLIP-based encoders) and text tokens are jointly embedded into a unified latent space before entering the transformer layers.

This enables:

• Joint pre-training on heterogeneous datasets (text, images, videos)
• Cross-modal attention without separate modality-specific branches
• Native interleaved processing of mixed input types (e.g., text+diagrams)

Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) Scaling

The MoE architecture uses dynamic parameter activation:

This design achieves 4-23x parameter efficiency vs dense models through conditional computation.

Training Infrastructure & Techniques

MetaP Hyperparameter Optimization
A novel automated hyperparameter transfer system that:

• Learns scaling laws across batch sizes (256K-4M tokens/batch)
• Optimizes layer-wise learning rates (1e-5 to 3e-4 range)
• Preserves stability across model widths (7B-288B) and depths (32-128 layers)

Precision Engineering

• FP8 training at 390 TFLOPs/GPU utilization (32K GPU cluster)
• Gradient quantization with 8-bit Adam optimizer
• Loss scaling dynamic adjustment for numerical stability

Data Pipeline

30T token dataset (2× Llama 3) with:

• 45% multilingual text (200 languages, 100+ with >1B tokens)
• 30% code (Python, C++, CUDA)
• 25% multimodal (LAION-3B, Youtube-100M clips)

Curriculum learning progressively introduces:

• Longer sequences (256K→10M tokens)
• Harder negative samples for contrastive learning

Hardware Requirements & Optimization

Deployment Scenarios

*Reported on Apple M3 Ultra with 4-bit quantization

Quantization Strategies

Int4 (Scout):

• Group-wise 4-bit weights (128-group size)
• Dynamic activation quantization (per-token 8-bit)
• KV cache compression (2.4× reduction)

FP8 (Maverick):

• Per-expert 8-bit quantization
• Expert-specific scaling factors
• Zero-degradation calibration

Performance Characteristics

Benchmark Dominance

Scaling Laws

• 256K pre-train context enables length extrapolation to 10M tokens

Hybrid attention pattern:

• Local window (4K tokens) + global sparse (256K stride)
• Dynamic position interpolation (RoPE θ=1e6)

Retrieval Accuracy

Needle-in-Haystack

• 98.7% at 1M tokens
• 89.2% at 10M tokens

Deployment Ecosystem

Optimized Serving Stack

• Dynamic expert routing with 2μs latency per decision
• Heterogeneous batching for mixed MoE configurations
• Speculative decoding (5× draft models) for 2.1× speedup

Enterprise Integration

1. AWS SageMaker: Pre-configured Scout/Maverick endpoints
2. Databricks: Optimized for Unity Catalog governance
3. Hugging Face:

• TGI 4.0+ with MoE support
• Custom LoRA adapters for expert fine-tuning

Limitations & Future Work

• Vision limitations: Text-only output (no image generation)
• Hardware dependency: Requires H100-class GPUs for full capabilities
• Bias challenges: Multilingual alignment remains imperfect

Roadmap:

• 24B dense variant (Q2 2025)
• Video temporal modeling (Q3 2025)

Technical Differentiation

Llama 4's natively multimodal MoE architecture combined with 10M-token context and FP8 training efficiency establishes a new paradigm for enterprise AI systems. The models' ability to dynamically allocate compute through expert routing while maintaining single-GPU deployability makes them uniquely positioned for both research and production use cases.

Llama 4

Llm

Meta

Multimodal

Artificial Intelligence

How Do Hackers Steal Passwords? 5 Common Methods & Your Security Checklist

 

Stop the Sneak Thieves!

Understanding How Hackers Try to Steal Your Passwords

Cybersecurity

Learn how the bad guys try to snatch them and how to keep them safe!

Have you ever stopped to think about how someone might actually steal your password? It sounds like something out of a spy movie, but unfortunately, it's a very real and common threat. In fact, according to reports from IBM, stolen passwords are the number one way attackers get into systems. The good news is, by understanding their methods, you can significantly boost your own defence.

This blog post, drawing on insights from a video by IBM Technology, will break down five common ways hackers try to get your passwords.

Don’t worry, we’re not giving away any secret hacker knowledge the bad guys already know this stuff! Our goal is to empower you, the "good guys," with the knowledge you need to stay safe.

The Sneaky Five

How Hackers Try to Crack Your Code

Let's dive into the five key methods discussed in the video:

Guessing Games: Sometimes It’s Just a Shot in the Dark

Imagine a burglar simply trying every key they have in the lock. That's essentially what password guessing is. The attacker tries to log in using common passwords or information they might know about you. This could be anything from your pet's name to obvious sequences like "123456".

1. Where do they get their guesses?

• Imagination or basic knowledge: They might just take a wild stab based on common sense or what they know about you.
• Sticky notes and visible clues: Believe it or not, hackers sometimes rely on people writing down their passwords on sticky notes near their computers the video refers to these collections as the "PC sunflower".
• Password databases from past breaches: When websites or services get hacked, their password lists sometimes end up online. Attackers can use these massive lists of real passwords to try on other systems.

Luckily, most systems have a built-in defence against simple guessing “the three-strikes-and-you’re-out rule”. After a few failed login attempts, your account usually gets locked, preventing endless guessing. This is why simply guessing isn’t usually a very effective method for attackers unless they get very lucky or have some good clues.

2. Password Harvesting: When They Already Know (or Think They Do)

This method is more sophisticated than just guessing because the attacker aims to obtain your actual password without having to guess. There are a couple of common ways this happens.

• Malware - The Silent Spy: Imagine a tiny program secretly recording everything you type on your computer, including your passwords. This type of malicious software is called a “keylogger” or an information stealer. The hacker then collects this information, giving them your passwords directly. This is why keeping your devices free from malware is crucial.
• Phishing - The Fake Website Trap: Have you ever received an email that looked like it was from your bank or a social media site, asking you to log in? This could be a phishing attack. The email directs you to a fake website that looks very similar to the real one. When you enter your username and password on this fake site, you’re actually handing your credentials directly to the attacker.

In both these harvesting scenarios, the attacker doesn't need to guess – they've effectively tricked you or your computer into giving them the keys to your accounts.

3. Password Cracking: Decoding the Digital Vault

Most websites and apps don’t store your password in plain text. Instead, they use a process called hashing, which turns your password into a scrambled code. This means that even if a hacker breaks into a system and steals the password database, they won’t see your actual password. However, resourceful attackers have ways to try and figure out the original password through a process called cracking.

• How does cracking work? Since hashing is a one-way process (it can’t be easily reversed), attackers try to “back their way” into discovering your password. They do this by:
  I . Using lists of common passwords: They take publicly available lists of frequently used passwords or password dictionaries.
  II. Applying the same hashing process: They take a password from their list, hash it using the same method as the hacked system, and then compare the resulting code to the stolen hashed passwords.
  III. Checking for a match: If the codes match, they know the original password, even though they never "broke" the encryption.
  IV. Brute force (the last resort): In a more time-consuming approach, they might try every possible combination of characters until they find a match.

So, while they can't directly reverse the hashing, they can try enough guesses and comparisons to potentially uncover the original passwords.

4. Password Spraying: One Key, Many Doors

Imagine a master key that an attacker tries on multiple doors within the same building. That’s the idea behind password spraying. Instead of trying many different passwords on one account (which would likely trigger the three-strikes rule), the attacker takes a “Single, Common Password” and tries it on many different user accounts within the same system.

• Why does this work? People often reuse the same passwords across multiple accounts. So, a password that was exposed in a previous data breach elsewhere might still work for someone on a different system.
• The advantage for the attacker: By only trying one password per account, they can avoid triggering account lockouts and stay under the radar. They don’t need to get into every account; they just need to find one that uses that common password.

5. Credential Stuffing: Spreading the Net Wider

Credential stuffing is very similar to password spraying, but instead of focusing on multiple accounts within a single system, the attacker takes a known username and password combination (often obtained from previous data breaches) and tries it across many different websites and services.

• The logic: Just like people reuse passwords, they often reuse usernames (like their email address) as well. If a hacker has a list of usernames and passwords from one hacked site, there’s a good chance some of those combinations will work on other sites too.
• Harder to detect: This type of attack can be even harder to spot because the login attempts are spread across different systems, and the security teams for each individual system might not see the bigger picture.

Fortifying Your Digital Castle: How to Stay Safe

Now for the most important part: what can you do to protect yourself from these attacks?

Let’s focus on what you can do for prevention.

• Build Strong Walls (Password Strength): When creating passwords, aim for a good level of complexity and, more importantly, “length”. Longer passwords are generally much harder to crack than shorter, complex ones.
• Avoid the Known Weaknesses: When choosing a password, make sure it doesn’t appear on lists of known vulnerable passwords (many systems will check this for you).
• Different Keys for Different Doors (Unique Passwords): Try your best to use a unique password for every website and service you use. This means that if one account is compromised, the attackers won’t automatically have access to all your other accounts.
• Your Digital Bodyguard (Password Managers): Password managers are tools that can generate strong, unique passwords for you and securely store them, so you don’t have to remember them all. They can significantly reduce your risk of reusing passwords.
• Double the Locks (Multi-Factor Authentication - MFA): Don’t rely on just a password. Enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of security, often requiring a code from your phone or a biometric scan (like your fingerprint or face ID) in addition to your password. This means even if an attacker steals your password, they likely won’t be able to log in without that second factor.
• Consider the Ultimate Key (Passkeys): Use “passkeys” as a more secure alternative to passwords. These are based on cryptography and offer a stronger form of authentication. If you have the option, consider using passkeys.
• Guard the Gate (Be Wary of Phishing): Always be suspicious of emails or messages asking you to log in to your accounts, especially if they seem urgent or unexpected. Double-check the website address to make sure it’s legitimate before entering your credentials.
• Keep Your System Clean (Avoid Malware): Install and regularly update antivirus and anti-malware software on your devices to protect against keyloggers and other malicious programs.

Stay Vigilant, Stay Secure

Understanding how hackers try to steal your passwords is the first step towards protecting yourself in the digital world. By implementing strong password practices, using password managers and multi-factor authentication, and staying vigilant against phishing and malware, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim. Remember, making life harder for the bad guys is the goal! Stay safe out there!

Cybersecurity

Cyber Security Awareness

Scam

Phishing Awareness

Password Security

ChatGPT Prompt Engineering free Course for Developers

ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers by DeepLearning.AI

Prompt Engineering free Course 

Master the art of crafting prompts and build cutting-edge applications with this free DeepLearning.AI course.

Are you ready to harness the potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) and build powerful AI applications in record time? The "ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers" course, offered by DeepLearning.AI in partnership with OpenAI, is your gateway to mastering this transformative technology.

Why Prompt Engineering Matters

Generative AI offers opportunities for AI engineers to build powerful applications, and this course will share the best practices to enable more people to take advantage of these new capabilities.

This course will equip you with the skills to use LLMs and the OpenAI API to build capabilities that can innovate and create value.

What You'll Learn

This beginner-friendly course requires only a basic understanding of Python but is also suitable for advanced machine learning engineers. Led by experts Isa Fulford from OpenAI and Andrew Ng from DeepLearning.AI, this course dives into the practical aspects of prompt engineering, teaching you how to:

• Summarize user reviews for brevity
• Infer sentiment and extract topics
• Transform text through translation, spelling, and grammar correction
• Expand content by automatically writing emails
• Systematically engineer effective prompts
• Build custom chatbots

The course emphasizes hands-on experience, allowing you to experiment with numerous examples directly within a Jupyter notebook environment.

Course Structure

The ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers course is structured into nine lessons, complete with video explanations and code examples:

• Introduction
• Guidelines
• Iterative Prompt Development
• Summarizing
• Inferring
• Transforming
• Expanding
• Building a Chatbot
• Conclusion

Enroll for Free!

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the best and gain a competitive edge in the world of AI. Course access is free for a limited time during the DeepLearning.AI learning platform beta.

AI for Beginners Free Microsoft Course to Learn Artificial Intelligence from Scratch

AI for Beginners Free Course by Microsoft

Your Gateway to the World of Artificial Intelligence

AI for Beginners by Microsoft 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the world at an unprecedented pace. From self-driving cars to smart assistants, AI is everywhere. But how can you get started in this exciting field? If you're a beginner eager to learn AI from scratch, Microsoft’s "AI for Beginners" course is the perfect place to start!

Why Learn AI?

AI is no longer just a futuristic concept it’s a part of our daily lives. Businesses, healthcare, finance, and even entertainment industries rely on AI-driven solutions. Whether you’re a student, a professional looking to upskill, or just an AI enthusiast, learning AI can open doors to numerous opportunities.

What is AI for Beginners?

AI for Beginners is a free, open-source course designed by Microsoft to provide a hands-on introduction to AI concepts. It’s a structured, easy-to-follow program that covers everything from basic AI principles to building your own AI models.

Course Overview

This course consists of 12 lessons, each packed with theory, coding exercises, and real-world applications. Here’s what you’ll learn:

1. Introduction to AI

• Understanding what AI is and how it works.
• Real-world applications of AI.
• Ethics and responsible AI

2. Machine Learning Fundamentals

• What is Machine Learning (ML)?
• Types of ML: Supervised, Unsupervised, and Reinforcement Learning
• How ML models learn from data

3. Regression and Classification

• Building predictive models
• Understanding how AI makes decisions

4. Neural Networks & Deep Learning

• Basics of artificial neural networks
• Introduction to deep learning and how it mimics the human brain

5. Natural Language Processing (NLP)

• Teaching AI to understand and process human language
• Chatbots and AI-driven language models

6. Computer Vision

• Teaching AI to recognize images and objects
• Applications in facial recognition, self-driving cars, and more

7. AI Ethics & Responsible AI

• Understanding bias in AI
• Ensuring fairness and accountability in AI systems

8. Building Your Own AI Model

• Hands-on project: Create a working AI model from scratch!

Why Choose This Course?

• Beginner-Friendly – No prior AI knowledge is required.
• Hands-On Learning – Learn by doing with interactive coding exercises.
• Real-World Projects – Work on practical AI applications.
• Free & Open-Source – Learn at your own pace without any cost.
• Microsoft Expertise – Learn from industry leaders.

Who Should Take This Course?

Students & Beginners – Start your AI journey with structured learning.

Developers & Programmers – Learn how to integrate AI into your projects.

Tech Enthusiasts – Understand AI and how it impacts the world.

Business Professionals – Leverage AI for better decision-making.

How to Enroll?

The course is available for free at Microsoft AI for Beginners. All you need is a curiosity for AI and a willingness to learn!

Take the First Step in AI Today!

Artificial Intelligence is shaping the future, and you can be a part of it. Don’t miss the chance to gain AI skills and unlock new career opportunities. Start learning AI today with Microsoft’s "AI for Beginners" course and step into the world of AI!