Meta Platforms has officially launched the latest generation of its large language model (LLM) series, introducing Llama 4 Scout and Llama 4 Maverick. These models mark a significant leap forward in Meta's AI offerings, showcasing advanced multimodal processing power—the ability to analyze and synthesize data from various formats such as text, images, video, and audio.
Both Llama 4 Scout and Maverick are being released as open-source projects, allowing developers and researchers free access to the technology for experimentation and integration into a wide range of applications. This move underscores Meta’s commitment to fostering collaborative AI innovation across industries and academic communities.
In addition to these releases, Meta is offering a preview of Llama 4 Behemoth, a next-generation AI model that it touts as the most powerful in its lineup to date. Positioned as an advanced “teacher” model, Behemoth is intended to guide and refine the performance of newer, more lightweight systems.
The unveiling comes amid fierce competition in the AI sector, with companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic pushing the boundaries of what language models can achieve. Meta has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure, allocating up to $65 billion in 2025 alone to enhance its computing power and capabilities—reflecting increasing pressure from investors to deliver tangible returns from AI innovations.
However, the rollout of Llama 4 hasn't been without hurdles. According to a recent report by The Information, Meta delayed the model’s release due to concerns over its initial performance—especially in areas like mathematical reasoning and logical problem-solving. There were also internal worries that Llama 4 fell short compared to OpenAI’s models when it came to natural, humanlike voice interactions.
Despite those challenges, Meta’s push to open-source its AI tools and invest aggressively in next-gen models signals its intention to remain a major player in the evolving landscape of generative AI. With Llama 4 Scout, Maverick, and the anticipated Behemoth, Meta appears poised to deepen its footprint in both research and enterprise AI applications.