Meta has reportedly paused the rollout of its highly anticipated next-generation AI model, internally code-named Avocado. Originally slated for an early 2026 debut, the model represents Meta’s attempt to achieve “superintelligence” and compete directly with the industry’s most advanced reasoning systems.
The delay stems from significant infrastructure hurdles and the immense computational power required to stabilize the model’s reasoning capabilities. Sources suggest that Meta is re-evaluating its hardware allocation as the costs for power and cooling continue to surge. Additionally, internal testing revealed “hallucination plateaus,” where the model struggled to maintain accuracy during complex, multi-step logical deductions, prompting engineers to return to the fine-tuning stage.
Despite this setback, CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains committed to the project, viewing Avocado as the backbone of Meta’s future ecosystem, from WhatsApp assistants to sophisticated coding tools. The company is now pivoting its immediate focus toward optimizing its existing Llama architecture while it works to resolve the technical bottlenecks preventing Avocado’s release. Analysts suggest this delay reflects a broader trend in the industry, where the “scaling laws” of AI are meeting the hard reality of physical and financial constraints.
