Subvolts take Smaller AI models are challenging frontier labs by offering specialized enterprise solutions. Jul 16, 2026 - Developers
- Learn about Inkling's capabilities and how fine-tuning smaller models can be an alternative to large frontier models.
- Business
- Understand how specialized AI models like Inkling can offer efficient and customized solutions for enterprise needs.
The episode covers a new AI model from a notable former OpenAI executive, potentially signaling a new direction for enterprise AI.
Ep 820: The Most Important AI Model You’ll Probably Never Use That Just Dropped
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
Everyday AI host Jordan Wilson discusses the new Inkling AI model from Thinking Machines Labs. Led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, the company bets on smaller, fine-tuned models for enterprise tasks. The episode explores Inkling's multimodal and agentic capabilities, its open-source versus proprietary nature, and its potential impact on enterprise AI procurement and customization, contrasting it with larger frontier models.
A new company, led by a former OpenAI executive, launched a smaller AI model called Inkling. They believe these smaller, specialized AI tools will be more useful for businesses than the giant AI models everyone else is building. This could make AI more accessible and efficient for companies.
This episode is for business leaders and AI strategists exploring efficient AI solutions. It highlights a potential shift from massive, general-purpose models to specialized, smaller ones for enterprise needs. This approach could offer cost savings and better performance for specific tasks. Listeners learn how Inkling, backed by a prominent AI figure, challenges the current frontier model dominance and offers a glimpse into future enterprise AI procurement strategies.
- HostJordan Wilson
- GuestJordan WilsonHost, Everyday AI
- Episode Title: Ep 820: The Most Important AI Model You’ll Probably Never Use That Just Dropped
- Show: Everyday AI
- Host: Jordan Wilson
- Length: 32 minutes
- New Model: Inkling
- Company: Thinking Machines Labs
Transcript ↗ Key moments and transcript search come with a later piece.
You've probably never heard of Inkling.
It's the newest (and first) model from Thinking Machines Labs, and it could very well be a small snowball that picks up major momentum in today's enterprise AI landscape.
If you haven’t heard of Thinking Machines, they’re led by Mira Murati, the former CTO at OpenAI.
The big bet with Inkling?
The future of AI could be using smaller models fine-tuned and optimized for smaller tasks.
Will it work?
Tune in live as we dive in.
The Most Important AI Model You’ll Probably Never Use That Just Dropped -- An Everyday AI Chat With Jordan Wilson
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Topics Covered in This Episode:
- Inkling AI Model Launch Overview
- Thinking Machines Lab Leadership Highlight
- Inkling's Multimodal and Agentic Capabilities
- Open Source vs. Proprietary AI Models
- Enterprise Procurement with American AI Models
- AI Fine Tuning as a Service (Tinker)
- Benchmark Scores: Inkling vs. Frontier Models
- Customization and Model Shopping for Enterprises
- AI Token Costs Driving Model Efficiency
- Bridgewater Case Study: AI Model Customization
- Frontier Models Enabling Efficient Fine-Tuning
- Future Trends: Specialized Small Language Models
Timestamps:
00:00 Inkling: A new AI model release
05:43 Inkling AI model details
09:08 China's dominance in open source AI
11:48 Launch and model updates discussed
15:21 Concerns over using Chinese open-source models
19:06 Training smaller AI models
20:22 Using GPT for AI Model Training
23:54 Predicting Rise of Small Language Models
28:38 Choosing the right AI model
Keywords:
Inkling, Thinking Machines Lab, Meera Muradi, former OpenAI CTO, open source AI model, American AI model, fine tuning as a service, enterprise AI, multimodal AI, agentic models, customizable AI, Tinker, enterprise distribution, model procurement, Chinese open source models, strategic reset, model overhang, capabilities gap, AI model shopping, model routing, cost-conscious enterprises, artificial intelligence index, 975 billion parameter model, text-image-audio AI, open weights, proprietary AI models, customization accessibility, small language models, AI workflows, context window, Bridgewater use case, model distillation, GPU infrastructure, API costs, token efficiency, fine-tuned models, post training, AI competitive leverage, recurring financial judgment, AI benchmarks
- fine-tuned
- This refers to training a pre-existing AI model on a smaller, specific dataset to improve its performance on a particular task.
- Adjusting an AI to be really good at one specific job.
- multimodal
- AI models that can process and understand information from multiple types of data, such as text, images, audio, and video.
- AI that can understand different kinds of information, like words and pictures.
- agentic
- AI systems designed to act autonomously, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals.
- AI that can act on its own to get things done.
53 min44 min
1 h 13
44 minWhat Apple’s OpenAI lawsuit is really about
WithHayden Field
Questions people ask
- What is Inkling?
- Inkling is the first AI model from Thinking Machines Labs, led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati. It focuses on smaller, fine-tuned models for specific enterprise tasks.
- What is Thinking Machines Labs' strategy?
- They believe the future of AI in enterprises lies in using smaller models optimized for specific tasks, rather than relying solely on large, general-purpose frontier models.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Everyday AI.