Meta Plans New Visual AI Model To Rival ChatGPT And Gemini

Meta seems to be developing a new artificial intelligence model focused on images and videos, codenamed “Mango.” This effort is part of its strategy to compete more directly with major players like Google and OpenAI. According to information published by The Wall Street Journal, this initiative shows Meta’s intention to strengthen its position in the fast-changing AI market, particularly in visual content generation and processing.

Previously, Meta worked on another AI project called “Avocado,” which was a closed model aimed at programming and code-related tasks. With Mango, the company is shifting its focus toward multimodal capabilities, especially in images and videos. These areas are currently dominated by solutions such as Google’s AI tools and OpenAI’s ChatGPT with image features. The goal is to create a powerful AI model that can compete with established visual AI offerings.

In an interview on Thursday the 18th, Meta’s Director of AI, Alexandr Wang, and Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, confirmed that both Mango and Avocado are set for release in the first half of 2026. These models are expected to be the first major products from the Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), a research and development division announced in July. The lab was established to centralize and speed up Meta’s efforts in artificial intelligence.

With the upcoming launch of Mango, Meta aims to become a stronger competitor to Google’s visual AI products, like Veo 3 and Nano Banana, and to the updated image generation features of ChatGPT. This move underscores the growing importance of AI models that can understand, generate, and manipulate visual media. This area has seen rapid innovation and rising demand.

The article also sheds a light on a broader shift in Meta’s corporate priorities; AI has become a key focus for major tech companies, and Meta, of course, is no exception. The company has indicated plans to cut investments in the Metaverse, redirecting resources and attention to AI development. The shift suggests that Meta sees advanced multimodal AI systems as a more immediate and impactful growth opportunity.

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