Meta is reportedly working on a new AI model called 'Avocado' and it might not be open source

"As both CNBC and Bloomberg note, Meta's shift has also been driven by issues surrounding the release of Llama 4. The Llama 4 "Behemoth" model has been delayed for months; The New York Times reported earlier this year that Wang and other execs had "discussed abandoning" it altogether. And developers have reportedly been unimpressed with the Llama 4 models that are available."

"There have been other shakeups within the ranks of Meta's AI groups as Zuckerberg has spent billions of dollars building a team dedicated to superintelligence. The company laid off several hundred workers from its Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Research (FAIR) unit. And Meta veteran and Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun, who has been a proponent for open-source and skeptical of LLMs, recently announced he was leaving the company."

Mark Zuckerberg is shifting Meta's AI strategy toward pursuing superintelligence and reducing reliance on open-source models. Meta is developing a new model called Avocado that could be proprietary and is expected in 2026, being built by a small "TBD" team within the AI Superintelligence Labs led by Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang. Zuckerberg has said Meta will not open-source everything and has cited safety concerns around superintelligence. Problems with the Llama 4 release, including delays to the "Behemoth" model and developer dissatisfaction, have influenced the pivot. Meta has cut hundreds of FAIR employees and Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun announced his departure.

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