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What you need to know
A report indicates that Meta’s upcoming Llama 4 has faced a variety of internal and external challenges, resulting in several delays. Insiders suggest that the company has experienced heightened competition from DeepSeek, a new AI model that has put additional pressure on Meta to enhance its own machine-learning capabilities. As the company aims for an anticipated release “later this month,” it is also focusing on improving Llama 4’s performance, reasoning ability, and math skills. Back in the fall, CEO Mark Zuckerberg hinted at the model’s release in 2025, while also announcing a developer conference named LlamaCon for April 29.
According to sources familiar with the situation, as reported by The Information (paywall), the development of Meta’s Llama 4 has faced significant difficulties. Among these challenges is the emergence of DeepSeek, which has reportedly intensified the urgency for Meta to innovate and advance its own AI model.
Sources say that Llama 4 may adopt a novel approach inspired by DeepSeek known as “mixture of experts.” This strategy involves segmenting the AI’s training process, enabling distinct components to specialize in specific tasks. Such a method could reduce the need for the entire Llama 4 system to activate for every function, potentially enhancing efficiency at both software and hardware levels.
Additionally, it has been reported that Llama 4 did not perform satisfactorily in internal evaluations, particularly regarding its mathematical processing and reasoning skills. The model also struggled with conversational capabilities; Meta aims for Llama 4 to engage in discussions that feel more “humanlike,” a characteristic that has recently garnered attention in AI development.
Despite these reported challenges, the anticipation for Llama 4 continues, with the model officially aiming for a release later this month. Since last fall, when Zuckerberg hinted at Llama 4’s capabilities during a Q3 2024 earnings call, expectations have been building. Zuckerberg emphasized that the next iteration of Llama is “set” for a 2025 launch with enhanced features. He noted the increased usage of Meta’s AI integration across platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, suggesting a strategic push towards business users.
Furthermore, Zuckerberg asserted that Llama 4 is expected to be “much faster” upon its release. Meta has also unveiled plans for LlamaCon, which will occur on April 29, designed for developers to gather insights on the latest advancements in open-source AI. With an investment of approximately $65 billion intended for AI this year, the company is under considerable pressure as it strives to complete its latest language model.
As speculation swirls around a possible alignment of Llama 4’s launch with LlamaCon, the tech community remains poised to see how Meta navigates these hurdles in its journey towards advancing AI.
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www.androidcentral.com