What is PyTorch and why use it?
PyTorch has become a mainstay in the field of modern artificial intelligence. Originally developed by Facebook, its focus on simplicity and efficient use has made it a popular tool among researchers and developers looking to take their models from research to production. In addition, PyTorch is known for its similarity to Python, making it easy to work with classes, objects and arrays such as those in NumPy. A valuable attribute is that it is free software, supported by the PyTorch Foundation, part of the Linux Foundation, encouraging its use and promotion through a large open-source community.
What is the difference between PyTorch and other frameworks?
PyTorch differs mainly because of its ease of use and its focus on the user. While TensorFlow, another big player in artificial intelligence launched by Google in 2015, has been a pioneer in the industry, PyTorch, born a year later, has excelled in its ability to facilitate rapid adoption and creation of models. This ease translated into a growing number of followers and users migrating from TensorFlow to PyTorch, especially after the release of TensorFlow 2.0 in 2019. Data from the 2021 State of AI report indicates a significant migration to PyTorch among researchers, where one in two who used TensorFlow switched to PyTorch.
How is the artificial intelligence landscape changing?
PyTorch has not only gained popularity among researchers, but has also been adopted by tech giants and startups. Meta, Google, Microsoft, and innovative companies such as Tesla, OpenAI, and Hogging Face use PyTorch to build and deploy next-generation models. A prime example is OpenAI's GPT-4 chat model, and Tesla's autonomous models, all of which are supported on PyTorch. Massive volume of research presented at AI conferences, more than 75% during 2020, was done with PyTorch.
How does this affect repositories and models in practice?
The relevance of PyTorch is also reflected in the number of repositories on GitHub that use it. These repositories have shown continued growth versus those of TensorFlow, which have experienced a decline. In addition, platforms such as Hogging Face show an advantage in the availability of PyTorch models compared to TensorFlow and JAX. This trend indicates that not only is the latest research being developed in PyTorch, but also that there is broader access to AI models with this framework.
Why is it crucial to learn PyTorch?
The PyTorch updraft in artificial intelligence does not seem to be slowing down. Learning how to operate it not only provides the ability to access an active and growing community, but also allows you to work with cutting-edge technology that leads the development and implementation of new AI models. With the constantly evolving technological landscape, adopting PyTorch is not only advantageous, it is practically indispensable for those looking to excel in the world of artificial intelligence. Go ahead and get involved in the next era of AI research and development!
Want to see more contributions, questions and answers from the community?