Meta Delays Rollout of New AI Model After Performance Concerns

Source: Slashdot

Delay of Meta’s Next AI Model

Meta has delayed the release of its next major AI model after internal tests showed it lagging behind competing systems from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic.

The model, code‑named Avocado, outperformed Meta’s previous AI model and did better than Google’s Gemini 2.5 model from March, according to two people familiar with the testing. However, it did not perform as strongly as Gemini 3.0 from November. As a result, Meta has pushed Avocado’s release back to at least May, rather than the originally planned launch this month.

The leaders of Meta’s AI division have discussed temporarily licensing Gemini to power the company’s AI products, though no decisions have been reached.

Industry Context

AI experts note that improving models takes time, and Meta can still catch up to rivals. A longer timeline has emerged at the company, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg tempering expectations for Avocado in recent months.

“I expect our first models will be good, but more importantly will show the rapid trajectory we’re on,” Zuckerberg said on a call with investors in January.

A Meta spokesperson added:

“As we’ve said publicly, our next model will be good but, more importantly, show the rapid trajectory we’re on, and then we’ll steadily push the frontier over the course of the year as we continue to release new models. We’re excited for people to see what we’ve been cooking very soon.”