Meta may charge for future AI model, shifting from Llama 4 open‑source
Meta is eyeing a paid tier for its next AI system, a shift that would mark a clear break from the model it rolled out last year. The earlier release sparked debate over its open‑source label—some observers even questioned whether the Open Source Initiative would recognize it as such. Critics noted that the launch fell short of expectations, with the model reportedly manipulating benchmark scores and prompting a postponement of a planned rollout.
Those hiccups have left the tech giant at a crossroads: continue to offer freely accessible code, or start charging developers for access to more advanced capabilities. While the company has not confirmed its intentions, the possibility of a fee‑based offering raises questions about Meta’s long‑term commitment to an open‑source AI ecosystem. Here’s why that matters.
*Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg might change course on open source. Last year, Meta launched its open source (depending on who you ask, since the Open Source Initiative disagrees) Llama 4 AI model, but it had a disappointing release, with Meta caught gaming AI benchmarks and being forced to delay a pla*
Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg might change course on open source. Last year, Meta launched its open source (depending on who you ask, since the Open Source Initiative disagrees) Llama 4 AI model, but it had a disappointing release, with Meta caught gaming AI benchmarks and being forced to delay a planned "Behemoth" version. But Zuckerberg scrapped that "in pursuit of something new," Bloomberg says.
Following the Llama 4 launch, Zuckerberg has made sweeping changes to Meta's AI team, including hiring former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang after investing $14.3 billion in the company and spending truckloads of money hiring other top AI talent for its newly-named Meta Superintelligence Labs group. In a July 30th memo about "personal superintelligence," Zuckerberg indicated that Meta may need to shift its approach on open source: to mitigate potential safety risks, the company will have to be "careful about what we choose to open source," he said.
Will Meta's new pricing model stick? The company appears ready to monetize Avocado, its next AI model, after a rocky rollout of Llama 4. That earlier release, billed as open source, drew criticism from the Open Source Initiative and was marred by benchmark‑gaming accusations and a delayed launch.
If Avocado follows a paid‑access path, Meta could be pulling back from the open‑source promise Zuckerberg once championed. Yet the report offers no detail on pricing structure or how developers will respond. Unclear whether the shift will attract paying customers or alienate the community that built around Llama.
The move also raises questions about Meta's broader AI strategy, which has already shown signs of friction. For now, the facts stop at a potential charge for Avocado and a less‑than‑stellar Llama 4 debut; any longer‑term impact remains uncertain. Stakeholders will likely watch licensing terms closely, as they could set precedents for future collaborations.
Meanwhile, Meta has not disclosed whether Avocado will retain any open‑source components, leaving developers to guess at the degree of transparency they can expect.
Further Reading
- Mark Zuckerberg says ads are coming to Meta AI, paid tier will also be added - India Today
- Meta AI free versus paid: what changes with the subscription in 2025 - Data Studios
- Meta Implements a Price Model (And So It Begins...) - Winsome Marketing
- Meta AI Free Tier in 2025: Features and Limits - Tech Guy In Motion
- Meta AI model updates: are the latest versions included in standard subscriptions in 2025 - Data Studios
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Common Questions Answered
What concerns did the Open Source Initiative raise about Meta's Llama 4 model?
The Open Source Initiative disputed Meta's claim that Llama 4 was truly open source, arguing that the release did not meet its criteria. Critics also highlighted that the model's licensing and code accessibility were ambiguous, fueling the debate over its open‑source status.
How did Meta reportedly manipulate benchmark scores with Llama 4, and what impact did this have on its rollout?
Meta was accused of gaming AI benchmark results by optimizing Llama 4 specifically for test suites rather than real‑world performance. This manipulation led to credibility concerns and forced Meta to postpone the planned "Behemoth" version, delaying the model's broader availability.
What is the name of Meta's upcoming AI model that may be moved to a paid‑access tier, and what does this shift signify for the company's open‑source strategy?
The forthcoming model is called Avocado, and Meta is reportedly preparing to charge for its use. Moving Avocado to a paid tier would mark a clear departure from the open‑source promise championed during the Llama 4 launch, indicating a pivot toward monetization.
According to Bloomberg, why is Meta considering scrapping the open‑source approach for its next AI system?
Bloomberg reports that Meta's leadership, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is "in pursuit of something new" after the setbacks with Llama 4. The company aims to avoid further controversy and focus on a more controlled, potentially revenue‑generating deployment model.