Meta is moving fast to release its next version of the Llama AI model by the end of the year. This project is one of the first big efforts from Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), a new unit that’s focused on advanced AI development. Interestingly, a team within MSL, called TBD, is building the new model, which is referred to as either Llama 4.X or Llama 4.5 internally. According to Business Insider, two people familiar with the project say that the goal is to have the model ready for production before the year ends, although they asked to remain anonymous because they weren’t allowed to speak publicly.
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Meta’s earlier release of the Llama 4 models in April, including versions called Scout and Maverick, didn’t get much praise. Indeed, developers said that they didn’t perform well in real-world tasks like coding, reasoning, and following instructions. Now, the TBD team is not only creating Llama 4.X but also trying to fix bugs and improve the current Llama 4 models. It’s also worth noting that another model, named Behemoth, was part of the Llama 4 family, but its launch was delayed.
Nevertheless, CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed during Meta’s second-quarter earnings call in July that the MSL team is making progress on Llama 4.1 and 4.2, while also working on next-gen models for the future. Nevertheless, MSL has already lost several team members, including researchers, engineers, and a senior product leader, despite Meta offering large salaries to attract top AI talent from companies like OpenAI and Google (GOOGL) DeepMind.
Is Meta a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on META stock based on 42 Buys, six Holds, and zero Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average META price target of $873.29 per share implies 18.4% upside potential.
