Meta is initiating a significant change in its artificial intelligence strategy with the introduction of a new model, codenamed Avocado. This development signifies a strategic shift away from the company’s previous focus on open AI models, such as the Llama series, towards a more commercially-driven approach. By prioritizing revenue generation, Meta is set to enter a new phase in its AI ambitions.
Historically, Meta has positioned itself as a leader in open AI development, providing free access to models like Llama 2 and Llama 3 for developers, researchers, and enterprises. This openness helped bolster Meta’s influence in the AI space, even as it struggled with monetization. However, internal discussions at Meta led executives to question the sustainability of this open model in a competitive landscape dominated by paid offerings from AI firms like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. The conclusion was clear: future models must also support revenue generation, making Avocado the first embodiment of this revised strategy, which will likely be offered through paid APIs rather than free releases.
The development of Avocado is being spearheaded by a newly restructured unit within Meta known as Meta Superintelligence Labs, led by Alexandr Wang, the founder of Scale AI. This reorganization reflects a shift toward a more competitive and product-focused direction. Rather than pursuing broad academic research, the teams are concentrating on creating advanced models capable of competing with offerings like GPT, Claude, and Gemini. This structural change also reallocates resources to focus on high-performance training runs and monetizable applications, reducing the emphasis on long-term exploratory projects.
What notably distinguishes Avocado from its predecessors is not only its capabilities but also its anticipated release strategy. Unlike previous models, Avocado may not be made available with downloadable weights or permissive licenses. Instead, access could be gated behind enterprise agreements, positioning Meta to compete more directly with other AI leaders. This shift has sparked debate within the company, particularly among researchers who traditionally supported open access. The departure of several high-profile members from Meta’s AI teams recently has further highlighted an internal philosophical divide.
The implications of Avocado extend beyond Meta. Should the company withdraw from its commitment to open releases, it could create a significant shift in the landscape of accessible state-of-the-art AI models. Discussions among standards groups and developers have already begun regarding the potential narrowing of available alternatives. Although Meta has not yet announced a release timeline for Avocado, the model clearly signals the company’s intent to compete at the highest levels of AI while establishing a viable business model for its initiatives.
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