Jamba 1.5 Large (non-reasoning)

High-context, high-cost, non-reasoning model

Jamba 1.5 Large (non-reasoning)

Jamba 1.5 Large is an open-licensed, high-context window model from AI21 Labs, notable for its substantial context capacity but positioned at the lower end of intelligence benchmarks and a higher price point compared to its peers.

AI21 LabsOpen License256k ContextNon-ReasoningHigh CostMarch 2024 KnowledgeDocument Processing

Jamba 1.5 Large, developed by AI21 Labs, enters the competitive landscape of large language models with a distinct profile. As an open-licensed model, it offers developers and enterprises flexibility in deployment and integration. Its most striking feature is an exceptionally large 256k token context window, enabling it to process and retain information from vast amounts of text in a single interaction. This capacity positions it as a strong contender for applications requiring extensive document analysis, summarization, or data extraction from lengthy sources.

However, Jamba 1.5 Large is not without its trade-offs. It scores 15 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it significantly below the average of 33 for comparable models and ranking it #26 out of 30. This indicates that while it can handle large contexts, its capabilities for complex reasoning, nuanced understanding, or highly creative tasks are limited. Users should temper expectations regarding its 'intelligence' and focus on use cases where context retention and basic information processing are paramount, rather than sophisticated cognitive abilities.

From a cost perspective, Jamba 1.5 Large is positioned at the higher end of the spectrum. With an input token price of $2.00 per 1M tokens and an output token price of $8.00 per 1M tokens, it is considerably more expensive than the market averages of $0.56 and $1.67, respectively. This pricing structure necessitates careful cost management and strategic application to ensure economic viability, especially for high-volume operations. Despite the higher per-token cost, its ability to process massive inputs in one go might offer efficiencies for specific long-context tasks by reducing the number of API calls.

Performance benchmarks show that Jamba 1.5 Large delivers competitive speed and latency through major API providers. Amazon Bedrock, for instance, offers the fastest output speed at 46 tokens/second and the lowest latency at 0.56 seconds, closely followed by Google Vertex. This consistent performance across providers ensures that users can leverage its capabilities efficiently, provided their applications align with the model's strengths in handling large contexts rather than demanding advanced reasoning or creative output.

Scoreboard

Intelligence

15 (#26 / 30 / Lower Tier)

Scores 15 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it significantly below the average of 33 for comparable models.
Output speed

46 tokens/s

Amazon Bedrock offers the fastest output at 46 t/s, with Google Vertex close behind at 41 t/s.
Input price

$2.00 per 1M tokens

Significantly higher than the average input price of $0.56 per 1M tokens.
Output price

$8.00 per 1M tokens

Considerably more expensive than the average output price of $1.67 per 1M tokens.
Verbosity signal

N/A tokens

Data on typical output verbosity for Jamba 1.5 Large is not available.
Provider latency

0.56 seconds

Amazon Bedrock provides the lowest time to first token (TTFT) at 0.56s, closely followed by Google Vertex at 0.57s.

Technical specifications

Spec Details
Owner AI21 Labs
License Open
Context Window 256k tokens
Knowledge Cutoff March 2024
Intelligence Index 15 (Rank #26/30)
Input Price $2.00 / 1M tokens
Output Price $8.00 / 1M tokens
Fastest Output Speed 46 tokens/s (Amazon Bedrock)
Lowest Latency 0.56s (Amazon Bedrock)
Model Type Non-reasoning
Primary Use Case Long-context document processing

What stands out beyond the scoreboard

Where this model wins
  • Exceptional 256k token context window for processing and retaining information from extensive documents.
  • Open license offers significant flexibility for deployment, customization, and integration into diverse applications.
  • Competitive performance in raw speed and latency, with Amazon Bedrock leading at 46 tokens/s and 0.56s TTFT.
  • Suitable for tasks where high context retention is critical and complex reasoning is secondary, such as large-scale summarization or data extraction.
  • Consistent pricing and performance across major API providers like Amazon Bedrock and Google Vertex simplifies provider selection.
Where costs sneak up
  • Significantly higher input and output token prices compared to market averages, leading to potentially high operational costs.
  • Lower intelligence score (15 on AAII) means it may struggle with complex reasoning, nuanced understanding, or highly creative tasks.
  • Potential for increased costs if tasks require extensive prompt engineering or multiple iterations due to its moderate intelligence.
  • Not ideal for applications demanding sophisticated problem-solving or generative capabilities beyond basic rephrasing.
  • The 'Large' designation might create expectations of advanced intelligence that are not met by its benchmark scores.

Provider pick

Choosing the right API provider for Jamba 1.5 Large primarily hinges on balancing performance needs with existing cloud infrastructure. While pricing is identical across the top providers, minor performance differences can influence optimal selection.

Priority Pick Why Tradeoff to accept
Speed & Latency Amazon Bedrock Offers the fastest output speed (46 t/s) and lowest latency (0.56s). Minimal, as pricing is identical to Google Vertex.
Cost Efficiency Amazon Bedrock / Google Vertex Both providers offer identical blended pricing ($3.50/M tokens) and token prices. No significant cost difference between these two top providers.
Ecosystem Integration Amazon Bedrock / Google Vertex Best choice depends on your existing cloud infrastructure and preferred developer tools. Potential for vendor lock-in if deeply integrated into one ecosystem.
Balanced Performance Amazon Bedrock Marginally superior across speed and latency metrics while matching cost-effectiveness. The performance difference from Google Vertex is often negligible for many use cases.

Performance metrics are based on observed benchmarks and may vary slightly depending on specific workload, region, and API version. Always test with your own data.

Real workloads cost table

Understanding the real-world cost implications of Jamba 1.5 Large requires examining typical use cases. Given its high context window and lower intelligence, it's best suited for tasks involving large volumes of text where complex reasoning is not the primary requirement.

Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
Document Summarization (Long) 200k tokens (legal brief) 2k tokens (summary) Extracting key points from extensive documents. $0.42
Data Extraction (Structured) 100k tokens (financial reports) 5k tokens (JSON data) Pulling specific data points from large, semi-structured texts. $0.24
Content Rephrasing (Paragraphs) 5k tokens (article section) 5k tokens (rephrased section) Rewriting text for clarity or tone, within its intelligence limits. $0.05
Chatbot (Basic Q&A, long history) 10k tokens (user query + 25 turns history) 500 tokens (response) Maintaining context in extended, non-complex conversations. $0.024
Code Analysis (Large File) 50k tokens (codebase snippet) 1k tokens (analysis report) Identifying patterns or issues in large code blocks. $0.108

These examples highlight that while Jamba 1.5 Large's per-token cost is high, its ability to handle massive contexts can make it cost-effective for specific, high-volume document processing tasks where its lower intelligence is not a bottleneck.

How to control cost (a practical playbook)

Optimizing costs for Jamba 1.5 Large involves strategies that leverage its strengths while mitigating its weaknesses, particularly its higher token pricing and moderate intelligence. Strategic prompt engineering and workload management are key.

Leverage the 256k Context Window Wisely

Jamba 1.5 Large excels at processing extremely long inputs. Use this to your advantage for tasks like summarizing entire books, analyzing extensive legal documents, or processing large codebases in a single call, minimizing API call overhead.

  • Consolidate multiple smaller prompts into one larger, more comprehensive request to reduce the number of API calls.
  • Ensure your input data is well-structured and relevant to maximize the utility of the large context, avoiding unnecessary token consumption.
Optimize Prompts for Simplicity

Given its lower intelligence score, Jamba 1.5 Large performs best with clear, direct instructions. Avoid complex reasoning chains or highly abstract requests that might lead to suboptimal or verbose outputs, increasing costs.

  • Break down complex tasks into simpler, sequential steps if necessary, processing each step with a focused prompt.
  • Use explicit formatting instructions for desired output (e.g., "Return as JSON," "Summarize in 3 bullet points") to control output token count.
Monitor and Control Output Verbosity

Output tokens are significantly more expensive than input tokens. Actively manage the length and detail of the model's responses to prevent unnecessary expenditure.

  • Implement strict output length constraints in your prompts (e.g., "Limit summary to 200 words," "Provide only the answer, no preamble").
  • Post-process model outputs to trim unnecessary boilerplate or redundant information before storing or displaying.
Batch Processing for Efficiency

For tasks involving many similar, independent requests, consider batching them into a single API call if the total context fits within the 256k limit. This can reduce per-request overhead and improve throughput.

  • Design your application to aggregate data for processing, sending larger chunks less frequently.
  • Be mindful of the model's intelligence; batching too many disparate or complex tasks might dilute its focus and lead to less accurate results.
Strategic Provider Selection

While pricing is similar across Amazon Bedrock and Google Vertex, minor performance differences exist. If your application is highly sensitive to latency or throughput, choose the provider that offers the best performance for your region and specific workload.

  • Benchmark both Amazon Bedrock and Google Vertex with your actual data to identify the marginal performance leader for your specific use case.
  • Consider your existing cloud infrastructure to minimize data transfer costs and simplify integration efforts.

FAQ

What is Jamba 1.5 Large?

Jamba 1.5 Large is an open-licensed large language model developed by AI21 Labs. It is distinguished by its exceptionally large 256k token context window, making it suitable for processing vast amounts of text in a single interaction.

How does Jamba 1.5 Large compare in intelligence?

It scores 15 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it among the lower-performing models in its class (average is 33). This means it is less suited for complex reasoning, nuanced understanding, or highly creative tasks compared to more intelligent models.

Is Jamba 1.5 Large expensive to use?

Yes, Jamba 1.5 Large is considered expensive. Its input token price of $2.00 per 1M tokens and output token price of $8.00 per 1M tokens are significantly higher than the market averages of $0.56 and $1.67, respectively.

What are the best use cases for Jamba 1.5 Large?

Its primary strength lies in processing and extracting information from extremely long documents, such as legal briefs, research papers, or extensive reports. It's ideal for tasks where the volume of text is high and the required intelligence level is moderate, like summarization, data extraction, or content rephrasing.

Which API provider is best for Jamba 1.5 Large?

Amazon Bedrock generally offers slightly better performance in terms of output speed (46 t/s) and latency (0.56s) compared to Google Vertex (41 t/s and 0.57s). Since pricing is identical across these providers, Amazon Bedrock is often the preferred choice for performance-sensitive applications.

What is the knowledge cutoff for Jamba 1.5 Large?

Jamba 1.5 Large has knowledge up to March 2024, meaning it can draw upon information and events up to that date for its responses.

Can Jamba 1.5 Large be used for creative writing or complex problem-solving?

While it can generate text, its lower intelligence score means it may struggle with highly creative writing, complex problem-solving, or tasks requiring deep understanding and nuanced reasoning. For such applications, models with higher intelligence scores would be more suitable.


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