META Ramps Up AI Ambitions with New "Mango" Model Set for 2026

Meta Platforms (META) is reportedly preparing a major expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) portfolio with a new next-generation model. According to the Wall Street Journal, Meta is working on a new visual‑generation system code-named "Mango," designed to advance the company's capabilities in AI-powered image and video creation.Claim 50% Off TipRanks Premium and Invest with Confidence Unlock hedge-fund level data and powerful investing tools designed to help you make smarter, sharper decisions Stay ahead of the market with the latest news and analysis so your portfolio is always positioned for maximum potential Importantly, Mango is being developed alongside "Avocado," Meta's next large language model, which aims to deliver stronger reasoning and significantly improved coding performance. The models were discussed internally with Meta's chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, and chief product officer, Chris Cox. People familiar with the meeting told the WSJ that both Mango and Avocado are expected to debut in the first half of 2026. Wang also revealed that Meta is beginning early work on "world models," or AI systems that learn by interpreting visual information from their surroundings. Fierce Race in Image and Video AI Meta's renewed focus on visual AI comes as image and video generation becomes one of the most competitive battlegrounds in the industry. In September, Meta introduced Vibes, an AI video generator built with Midjourney. Within days, OpenAI (PC:OPAIQ) countered with its own video‑generation tool, Sora, reflecting how quickly the space is evolving. Google (GOOGL) has also gained momentum. Its Nano Banana image‑generation tool helped drive a surge in adoption of its Gemini AI suite, pushing monthly users from 450 million in July to more than 650 million by late October. The rapid pace of innovation has put pressure on OpenAI as well. After Google released the third version of Gemini in November, CEO Sam Altman reportedly issued a "code red," prompting the company to accelerate updates to its own image‑generation product, ChatGPT Images. Altman recently noted that image generation remains one of the most "sticky" and in-demand features among consumers. Is META a Buy or Sell Right Now? Turning to Wall Street, META stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 36 Buys, six Holds, and one Sell assigned in the last three months. At $829.09, the average Meta Platforms price target implies a 24.39% upside potential.