🚨 Meta Delays Release of New AI Model “Avocado”

March 13, 2026

In partnership with

Know What Matters in Tech Before It Hits the Mainstream

By the time AI news hits CNBC, CNN, Fox, and even social media, the info is already too late. What feels “new” to most people has usually been in motion for weeks — sometimes months — quietly shaping products, markets, and decisions behind the scenes.

Forward Future is a daily briefing for people who want to stay competitive in the fastest evolving technology shift we’ve ever seen. Each day, we surface the AI developments that actually matter, explain why they’re important, and connect them to what comes next.

We track the real inflection points: model releases, infrastructure shifts, policy moves, and early adoption signals that determine how AI shows up in the world — long before it becomes a talking point on TV or a trend on your feed.

It takes about five minutes to read.

The insight lasts all day.

Meta has reportedly delayed the launch of its next major AI model, internally code-named “Avocado.”

The model was originally expected to launch this month but is now pushed back until at least May, according to people familiar with the project.

⚠️ Why the Delay Happened

The delay comes after internal testing showed the model wasn’t performing as well as rival AI systems.

Reports suggest Avocado struggled to match the latest models from competitors such as:

• OpenAI
• Google
• Anthropic

Meta is now refining the system before public release.

🧠 Meta’s Massive AI Ambitions

Despite the delay, Meta is aggressively investing in AI.

The company announced $115–$135 billion in capital spending for 2026, aimed at building systems capable of reaching superintelligence — AI that could surpass human capabilities.

Major focus areas include:

• training next-generation AI models
• building custom AI chips
• expanding global data centers.

🤯 A Surprising Backup Plan

According to reports, Meta executives have also discussed a temporary solution:

Licensing AI technology from Google.

Specifically, Meta considered using the model from Gemini to power some of its AI products while its own models improve.

No final decision has been made.

📈 Meta’s Strategy

Meta’s approach is not about one single model release.

Instead, the company plans rapid iterative improvements throughout the year.

A spokesperson said the next model will demonstrate:

• strong performance gains
• a clear trajectory of improvement
• continued frontier progress.

🌍 Why This Matters

The delay highlights how intense the AI race has become.

Tech giants are competing to build the most powerful AI models while spending hundreds of billions on infrastructure.

Even a small performance gap can delay launches.

📌 Bottom Line

Meta isn’t slowing down — it’s recalibrating.

“Avocado” may arrive later than planned, but the company is betting that massive infrastructure investment and rapid iteration will eventually close the gap in the AI race.