Meta AI Model Delayed Amid Performance Concerns

Meta Platforms' shares declined by 1% in early premarket trading on Friday after The New York Times reported that its forthcoming AI model, code-named Avocado, did not meet internal benchmarks. The delay in launch is attributed to the model's failure to perform as strongly as Google's Gemini 3.0 model from November.

According to sources, Meta had planned to release the Avocado model this month but has now pushed it back to at least May. This move comes as a setback for Meta's AI division, which has been working on developing advanced AI models under the leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The news of the delay is significant, given that Meta has been shifting its focus towards artificial intelligence development in recent years. The company set up its Meta Superintelligence Labs team by poaching AI engineers from rivals and launched several versions of its Llama models, integrating them deeply into its social apps like Instagram.