Meta Platforms, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:META) upcoming foundational AI model, code-named &#34;Avocado,&#34; has reportedly underperformed compared with systems from competitors during internal evaluations.



<h2>Meta's ‘Avocado' AI Model Reportedly Falls Short In Internal Tests</h2>



Internal tests showed &#34;Avocado&#34; is lagging behind newer models from companies such as Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google and Anthropic, the New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.



The model is designed to power future chatbots, coding assistants and other AI-driven products across Meta's ecosystem.



While Avocado performed better than Meta's earlier AI systems and even surpassed an earlier version of Google's Gemini model, it reportedly did not match the capabilities of the latest Gemini release.



<h2>Launch Delayed As Meta Explores Alternatives</h2>



Because of the performance gap, Meta has reportedly pushed Avocado's launch back to at least May, from an earlier planned release this month.



Executives have also discussed the possibility of temporarily licensing technology from Google's Gemini models to support some of Meta's AI products, though no final decision has been made.



Meta did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments.



<h2>Zuckerberg's Massive AI Bet</h2>



Zuckerberg has positioned AI as central to Meta's future strategy. The company has spent billions hiring researchers and building infrastructure to support the technology.



In January 2026, Meta projected it could spend as much as $135 billion this year, nearly double the roughly $72 billion it spent last year, as it expands data centers and AI capabilities.



Meta is also developing additional models, including &#34;Mango,&#34; focused on image and video generation. Moreover, a future system is reportedly planned under the code name &#34;Watermelon.&#34;



Price Action: On Thursday, Shares of Meta fell 2.55% to $638.18 and slipped another 0.18% to $637 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro.



According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Meta shares are trending lower in the short, medium and long-term, though the company's Quality score were in the 89th percentile.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/13021339/Screenshot-2026-03-13-at-11.42.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" width="442" height="277" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/13021339/Screenshot-2026-03-13-at-11.42.06%E2%80%AFAM.png"/></figure>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo: PJ McDonnell / Shutterstock

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Meta Platforms has delayed the launch of its AI model "Avocado" due to underperformance in internal tests compared to Google and Anthropic models. Originally set for release this month, the launch is now pushed to at least May. Despite improvements over previous models, "Avocado" did not meet the capabilities of the latest Google Gemini. CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to invest heavily in AI, with projections of spending up to $135 billion this year. Meta's shares fell 2.55% to $638.18, reflecting a downward trend in stock performance.

- Meta Platforms, Inc.'s upcoming AI model, "Avocado," has reportedly underperformed compared to competitors in internal evaluations, leading to a launch delay until at least May.  
- While "Avocado" surpassed previous Meta systems and an earlier version of Google's Gemini, it did not match the latest Gemini release capabilities.  
- Meta is considering licensing technology from Google's Gemini models to enhance its AI products and has committed billions to AI development this year.

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Meta May Delay 'Avocado' As Tech Underwhelms In Tests Against Google Gemini And Anthropic AI Models: Report