LightningAI: STOP PAYING for Google's Colab with this NEW & FREE Alternative (Works with VSCode)

Summary

The video discusses the limitations of using Google Collab for AI projects due to its unreliable interface and lack of persistent storage. The host introduces Lightning AI, a web-based VS Code interface that offers a free, 24/7 studio with GPU capabilities and 22 free GPU hours per month. The video demonstrates the significant performance boost in running LLMs like LLama 3 on Lightning AI's GPU instance compared to the CPU version.

Takeaways

• 🎉 The AI Code King channel reached 1K subscribers in just one month.
• 💻 The creator prefers to run AI models locally but sometimes uses Google Colab for its free GPU access.
• 😖 Google Colab's interface is not favored due to its outdated feel and lack of reliability.
• 🚫 Persistent storage is a problem with Colab as data is lost once the browser is closed.
• 🕒 Colab sessions can time out after 5 minutes of inactivity, requiring a restart of the setup.
• 🌟 The creator discovered Lightning AI, a service offering a web-based VS Code interface with GPU capabilities.
• 🆓 Lightning AI provides one free Studio with 24/7 access and 22 GPU hours per month.
• 🔧 Users can switch between CPU and GPU instances seamlessly within the Lightning AI environment.
• 👍 The creator demonstrated running LLaMA 3 on Lightning AI, showing a significant speed increase with the GPU version.
• 📈 The video includes a step-by-step guide on how to sign up and use Lightning AI for AI model development.
• 👋 The creator encourages viewers to share their thoughts on using Lightning AI and to subscribe for more content.

Q & A

What milestone did the AI Code King channel reach in one month?

The AI Code King channel reached the milestone of 1K subscribers in just one month.

Why do people often use Google Colab for running AI models?

People often use Google Colab for running AI models because it provides access to a free GPU, allowing them to run high-end models.

What does the speaker dislike about Google Colab's interface?

The speaker dislikes Google Colab's interface because it feels outdated, like being in the 1990s, and lacks a modern aesthetic.

What are some limitations of using Google Colab mentioned in the script?

Some limitations of using Google Colab mentioned are the lack of persistent storage, the need to set up the environment from scratch after closing the browser, and the possibility of getting timed out after 5 minutes of inactivity.

What is the speaker looking for in an alternative to Google Colab?

The speaker is looking for an alternative that is simple to use, provides terminal access, allows full customization, supports persistent storage, and enables running any desired model with a GPU.

What is Lightning AI and how does it differ from Google Colab?

Lightning AI is a web-based VS Code interface that provides a free Studio with persistent storage and the ability to run 24/7. It differs from Google Colab by offering a more modern interface, terminal access, and the ability to attach a GPU to the instance as needed.

How many GPU hours are included in the free tier of Lightning AI?

The free tier of Lightning AI includes 22 GPU hours per month.

What is the process of getting access to Lightning AI according to the script?

To get access to Lightning AI, one needs to sign up on their site, join a waiting list, and wait for about 2 to 3 days to receive access via email notification.

How can the default CPU machine in Lightning AI be transformed into a GPU instance?

The default CPU machine in Lightning AI can be transformed into a GPU instance by clicking on the first option on the right sidebar and choosing the GPU option.

What is the difference in token production per second between running LLaMA 3 on the CPU and GPU instances in Lightning AI?

Running LLaMA 3 on the CPU instance produces about 3 tokens per second, while on the GPU instance, it produces about 43 tokens per second.

What is the speaker's final decision regarding the use of Google Colab and Lightning AI for future projects?

The speaker decides not to use Google Colab anymore and will be using Lightning AI for future projects due to its advantages.