Meta new open source model is coming?
Internal testing catalog reveals five new models, including a 9B parameter version and multimodal 'Mango' agent.
A leak from an internal testing catalog has revealed Meta's development of a new family of AI models under the 'Avocado' codename. The catalog shows five distinct configurations currently under evaluation. The most notable is Avocado 9B, a smaller 9-billion-parameter version likely aimed at efficiency and local deployment. Another standout is Avocado Mango, labeled with 'agent' and 'sub-agent' tags and described as a multimodal variant capable of image generation, suggesting a move towards more autonomous, multi-skill AI systems.
Other models in the suite include Avocado TOMM, described as a 'Tool of many models' built on the Avocado base, hinting at sophisticated tool-use and API-calling capabilities. The lineup is rounded out by Avocado Thinking 5.6, the latest iteration of a reasoning-focused model, and Paricado, a text-only conversational model. This leak indicates Meta is preparing not a single model, but a comprehensive toolkit of specialized AIs, continuing its strategy of open-sourcing powerful models to shape the ecosystem and challenge proprietary leaders like GPT-4o and Gemini.
- Leak reveals five 'Avocado' model variants: 9B, Mango (agent/multimodal), TOMM (tool-calling), Thinking 5.6 (reasoning), and Paricado (conversational).
- Avocado Mango is specifically labeled for 'agent' use with image generation, pointing to Meta's push into multimodal AI agents.
- The 9-billion-parameter 'Avocado 9B' model suggests a focus on efficiency for cheaper operation and local device deployment.
Why It Matters
Meta's open-source releases directly influence industry standards and provide free, powerful alternatives to expensive closed models from OpenAI and Google.