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Underdog releases 2-bit Saluki 27B model, outperforming Qwen3.8-27B in tool calling

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] ·

Underdog, a research initiative from Conway Research, has released Saluki 27B, a highly compressed 2-bit version of the Qwen3.8-27B model. This new model, available under the Apache 2.0 license, significantly reduces the file size from 54 GB to 7.89 GB, allowing it to run on standard llama.cpp implementations. While Saluki 27B shows improved performance in tool calling, achieving 120% retention compared to the original model, it experiences a notable decrease in performance for complex reasoning and math tasks. AI

IMPACT Enables more capable on-device agents by significantly reducing model size while maintaining key functionalities like tool calling.

RANK_REASON Release of a quantized model with performance comparisons. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=1.0]

Read on MarkTechPost →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

Underdog releases 2-bit Saluki 27B model, outperforming Qwen3.8-27B in tool calling

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0 / 100
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Tool
Release of a quantized model with performance comparisons. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=1.0]
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model release, product
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. MarkTechPost TIER_1 English(EN) · Michal Sutter ·

    Meet the Underdog Saluki 27B: A 2-bit Qwen3.8-27B That Beats the Original at Tool Calling

    <p>Underdog Saluki 27B is a 7.89 GB, 2-bit GGUF of Qwen3.8-27B under Apache 2.0. It beats the 54 GB original on tool calling but gives up ground on competition math and reasoning.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.marktechpost.com/2026/10/09/meet-the-underdog-saluki-27b-a-2-bi…

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