Towards Multi-Modal Mastery: A 4.5B Parameter Truly Multi-Modal Small Language Model (2411.05903v1)

Abstract: We present a novel 4.5B parameter small LLM that can handle multiple input and output modalities, including text, images, videos, and audio. Despite its small size, the model achieves near state-of-the-art performance on a variety of tasks, demonstrating the potential of multi-modal models to tackle complex real-world problems. Our approach leverages recent advancements in LLMing and multi-task learning to create a versatile and high-performing model that can even be deployed for edge inference. Experimental results show the model's strong performance across multiple benchmarks, paving the way for further progress in multi-modal artificial intelligence.