Meta has delayed the launch of its new AI model, code-named "Avocado," from this month to at least May or June. The postponement is due to the model's performance, which currently falls between Google's Gemini 2.5 and Gemini 3, lagging behind rival offerings.
Despite this delay, Meta is making massive investments in AI, with capital expenditures planned between $115 billion and $135 billion this year in pursuit of advanced "superintelligence." The company is also developing its own AI chips.
Internally, Meta's AI leaders have discussed the temporary option of licensing Google's Gemini technology to power its products, though no final decision has been made. The company states its upcoming models will demonstrate a rapid trajectory of improvement.
Main topics: Meta's AI model delay, performance comparison with competitors, significant AI investment and infrastructure, and potential licensing of rival technology.
Meta has postponed the release of its artificial intelligence model "Avocado" to at least May, from this month, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing sources.
The performance of Meta's new AI model currently falls between Google's AI Gemini â2.5 and â Gemini 3, â delaying its launch until May or June, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The delayed timeline comes even as the company invests heavily to expand its AI ambitions, including a roadmap for building its own chips.
In January, Meta laid out capital-spending plans of between $115 billion and $135 billion for the year â in the âpursuit of "superintelligence" - the horizon where AI will outsmart humans.
Meta's new model, which the company has â been working on for months, has fallen short in performance when compared with the latest offerings from rivals, the report said.
"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," a âMeta spokesperson told Reuters.
"We're excited for people to see what we've been cooking very soon," the spokesperson added in an emailed statement.
The â leaders of Meta's AI division have discussed the possibility of temporarily licensing Gemini to power the company's AI products, the report added, although no decisions have been reached.
Media outlets had reported in December that Meta was working on a text AI model code-named Avocado slated for a first-quarter launch.
The performance of Meta's new AI model currently falls between Google's AI Gemini â2.5 and â Gemini 3, â delaying its launch until May or June, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The delayed timeline comes even as the company invests heavily to expand its AI ambitions, including a roadmap for building its own chips.
In January, Meta laid out capital-spending plans of between $115 billion and $135 billion for the year â in the âpursuit of "superintelligence" - the horizon where AI will outsmart humans.
Meta's new model, which the company has â been working on for months, has fallen short in performance when compared with the latest offerings from rivals, the report said.
"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," a âMeta spokesperson told Reuters.
"We're excited for people to see what we've been cooking very soon," the spokesperson added in an emailed statement.
The â leaders of Meta's AI division have discussed the possibility of temporarily licensing Gemini to power the company's AI products, the report added, although no decisions have been reached.
Media outlets had reported in December that Meta was working on a text AI model code-named Avocado slated for a first-quarter launch.
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