Institute of Foundation Models Unveils K2 Horizon, Six Fully Open Models

Weights, code and training data are published for the entire range, from 0.9 to 375 billion parameters.

The Institute of Foundation Models (IFM), attached to MBZUAI University, presented on 3 September K2 Horizon, a family of six foundation models ranging from 0.9 to 375 billion parameters. Particularity claimed: the opening is total, weight, code and training data included, allowing anyone to inspect, reproduce and adapt models.

The smallest versions (0.9, 3.7 and 7 billion parameters) target embedded uses — connected watches, glasses, smartphones — when heavier versions, including a dense 32 billion model and a scattered 36 billion model with partial activation, are designed for local hosting or on internal servers. In terms of reasoning, mathematics, code and the use of agents, IFM claims a level of performance among the best in their size category, with new records for versions 0.9, 3.7 and 7 billion parameters.