In a significant move to accelerate its artificial intelligence capabilities, Meta Platforms Inc. is actively developing new AI models for generating images and videos. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, these tools are internally codenamed 'Mango' and 'Avocado' and are slated for release in the first half of 2026.
Internal Reveal and Strategic Focus
The details of these upcoming AI projects were discussed during an internal company question-and-answer session this week. Meta's Chief AI Officer, Alexandr Wang, and Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, led the discussion, revealing the tech giant's roadmap. While 'Mango' is understood to be focused on visual media generation, Wang specifically highlighted that the 'Avocado' model is being engineered to significantly improve AI coding skills.
Upon release, these tools will position Meta in direct competition with existing offerings from other tech leaders. They are expected to challenge Google's Nano Banana and Veo models, as well as OpenAI's ChatGPT Image and Sora video generator.
Meta's Aggressive AI Push and Restructuring
This development is the first major project to emerge from the recently formed Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL). This new division was created following a major internal restructuring of Meta's AI teams earlier this year. The formation of MSL and the push behind Mango and Avocado underscore CEO Mark Zuckerberg's personal commitment to closing the gap with AI frontrunners.
Zuckerberg has taken a hands-on role in the AI hiring drive, personally recruiting talent. As part of this aggressive strategy, Meta has onboarded more than 20 researchers from OpenAI, building a new team of over 50 researchers, engineers, and specialists. In a landmark deal, Meta also spent over $14 billion to acquire a 49% stake in Scale AI, bringing its 28-year-old founder, Alexandr Wang, on board to lead Meta's AI plans following the success of its Llama models.
Building on Recent Launches
The work on Mango and Avocado follows Meta's continuous rollout of AI features. Notably, the company released an AI video generator called 'Vibes' in September of this year. The planned 2026 launch of the new, more advanced models indicates a structured, long-term pipeline aimed at achieving leadership in the highly competitive field of generative AI.
This concerted effort, combining high-stakes acquisitions, strategic hiring, and dedicated project teams, signals Meta's determination to not just participate but to become a dominant force in the defining technology race of the decade.
