Top NLP Language Models You Should Know in 2024

Have you ever asked your phone a question and felt amazed when it answered correctly? Or maybe you’ve chatted with a virtual assistant that felt oddly… human. That magic? It’s all thanks to Natural Language Processing (NLP). And behind the scenes of all that magic are powerful tools called language models.

In 2024, NLP is more exciting than ever. Whether you’re a developer, a marketer, a writer, or just curious, understanding the top NLP models can help you keep up with our AI-powered world. So let’s break down what these models do — and which ones are making waves this year.

What Exactly Is a Language Model?

Let’s keep it simple. A language model is a type of artificial intelligence that understands and generates human language. It’s like giving a computer the ability to read, write, and talk like us.

Think of a language model as someone who’s read millions of books and articles. If you ask them a question, they can answer it using the patterns and knowledge they’ve gathered. That’s what big language models do — just at lightning speed and across countless topics.

These models power the features behind:

• Chatbots like ChatGPT or customer support agents on websites
• Search engines like Google to understand what you’re really asking
• Translation tools like Google Translate
• Voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant

Now that you’ve got the basics, let’s dive into the top NLP language models to know about in 2024.

1. GPT-4 (OpenAI)

If you’ve heard of ChatGPT, you’ve experienced GPT-4 in action. This model is OpenAI’s latest version, and it’s like a brainiac robot that’s really good at writing, coding, and even explaining complex topics in a simple way (like this blog!).

What makes GPT-4 special?

• It’s trained on a much bigger dataset than previous versions.
• It can understand both text and images.
• It handles nuanced conversations and context better than ever.

Need help writing an email, crafting a story, or summarizing a document? GPT-4’s got you covered.

2. PaLM 2 (Google)

Google’s PaLM 2 (Pathways Language Model) is another major player in the NLP space. It powers some exciting Google products, including Bard — Google’s AI chatbot.

Why PaLM 2 stands out:

• It’s fluent in over 100 languages!
• It’s trained to be strong in logic, reasoning, and even math.
• It responds faster and more accurately than its predecessors.

If you’ve ever chatted with Bard or used advanced features in Google Docs, you’ve likely seen PaLM 2 in action.

3. LLaMA 2 (Meta)

When Meta (formerly Facebook) released LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI), it caused quite a stir. And now, LLaMA 2 is here — even bigger and better.

Unlike GPT-4 and PaLM 2, which are a bit locked down, LLaMA 2 is open-source. That’s a huge win for researchers and developers who want to build their own tools using a powerful model.

Key highlights of LLaMA 2:

• Available in different sizes: 7B, 13B, and 70B parameters.
• Trained using public and academic datasets (not personal data).
• Built for safety and efficiency.

By letting anyone use the model, Meta is pushing innovation in all kinds of industries.

4. BERT (Google)

If NLP models were celebrities, BERT would be a legend. Even though it’s a few years old now, it’s still incredibly important. Google uses it to help its search engine understand your queries better.

BERT understands context. For example, the word “bank” could mean a riverbank or a financial institution. BERT figures it out based on the surrounding words.

Best uses for BERT:

• Improving search engine results
• Text classification
• Named Entity Recognition (for finding names, locations, organizations in text)

So while it might be “older,” it’s still one of the most used and reliable NLP models out there.

5. Claude by Anthropic

Claude is a newer kid on the block, developed by Anthropic — a company founded by former OpenAI employees. Named after Claude Shannon, the father of information theory, this model is focused on being ethical and safe.

Why people love Claude:

• It’s trained with Constitutional AI — a method that teaches the AI to act according to a written set of rules.
• It avoids toxic or offensive responses.
• Still, it’s creative and incredibly useful for tasks like summarizing, generating text, and answering questions.

Claude is ideal for companies that want to use AI responsibly without compromising on performance.

6. Mistral

If you’re looking for a nimble model that doesn’t take massive resources, Mistral might be your go-to. This lightweight model has gotten a lot of attention because it’s open-source and doesn’t require heavy computing power like GPT-4 or PaLM 2.

While it might not understand complex conversations as well as GPT-4, it’s super handy for developers building applications or tools where efficiency and size matter.

7. BLOOM (BigScience)

Ever wanted a truly open and international language model? That’s BLOOM. It was built by over 1,000 researchers across 70+ countries. Its goal? To democratize AI and make language technology accessible to all.

Cool facts about BLOOM:

• Supports 46 languages and 13 programming languages
• Fully open-source and transparent
• Designed to align with ethical AI development values

BLOOM is like the community-built engine of NLP — proving that collaboration beats competition.

Choosing the Right NLP Model: What Should You Consider?

So how do you know which model to use or keep an eye on? It really depends on your needs. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• What’s your purpose? Are you building a chatbot, analyzing documents, or improving content recommendations?
• Do you need it to support multiple languages? Go with models like PaLM 2 or BLOOM.
• Is privacy a concern? Claude and LLaMA 2 offer transparency and ethical guardrails.
• Are you working on a budget? Open-source models like LLaMA 2, BLOOM, or Mistral can save you money.

There’s no one-size-fits-all, but the good news is — there’s something out there for everyone, from startups to tech giants.

Where Are NLP Models Headed Next?

NLP technology is evolving fast. We’re likely to see:

• More multimodal capabilities – Models handling text, images, audio, and perhaps video at once
• Smaller, faster models – That run efficiently on mobile devices and chips
• Bigger emphasis on safety and transparency
• Bilingual and trilingual natives as default – Breaking language barriers even further

Remember when spell check amazed us? Now our tools can write content, answer questions, and even code for us. And we’re just getting started.

Final Thoughts

It’s clear that NLP is changing the way we live, work, and connect. Whether you’re chatting with a bot or searching for something online, chances are, one of these powerful language models is behind it.

From GPT-4’s incredible ability to write like a human, to BLOOM’s international, community-driven roots — these models are shaping the digital world. And now that you’ve met them, you’re one step closer to navigating that world with confidence.

So the next time you chat with AI, remember — there’s a whole language-learning brain behind those words. And now, you know its name.

Thanks for reading!

If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it or share it with a friend. Got questions about NLP models or AI tools? Leave a comment below — we’d love to hear from you!