Meta would be preparing its own image generator to compete with Google's Nano Banana

Meta advances in the race for artificial intelligence with the upcoming arrival of Mango, a new model oriented towards the generation of images and video by AI, which aims to compete directly with Nano Banana Pro from Google. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company led by Mark Zuckerberg is committed to redefining its position in the global innovation market, prioritizing developments in both visual and textual generative capabilities. The development of Mango responds to the recent impetus that Google has taken with its visual generation engine, which has raised the demand for other influential firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic. The media indicates that Meta plans to launch both Mango and its textual model, called Avocado, in the first half of next year. This decision implies that updates to Llama, the system currently supporting Meta's AI functions, would take a backseat according to the company's current strategy. The new models seek to set trends in the field of digital creativity and advanced automation. You can also read:

The responsibility for these developments lies with Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), a division created to focus Meta's efforts on next-generation innovation. As reported by Bloomberg News, MSL brings together recently incorporated specialists under the direction of Alexandr Wang, co-founder of Scale AI and current director of MSL, along with the coordination of Chris Cox, Meta's chief product officer. Zuckerberg's vision consists of self-learning systems, aimed at accelerating competitiveness in an environment marked by the rapid and constant evolution of technology. The consolidation of MSL not only involved internal restructuring, but also a significant economic investment. Meta invested approximately USD 14.3 billion to acquire 49% of Scale AI, a startup focused on data labeling for the training of AI models. This operation allowed Wang to formally assume leadership of the division and enhanced Meta's access to high-quality data, considered fundamental for the development of advanced algorithms and the improvement of content generation.

Alongside Mango, Meta is projecting Avocado, an AI model focused on text generation and understanding, especially aimed at users with technical needs in programming and code development. Meta's strategy contemplates temporarily suspending the evolution of Llama to focus on the deployment of these new tools, supporting the transition towards applications that integrate both visual and textual functionalities of the latest generation.

Sectoral Competition and Challenges for Meta

Meta faces the challenge of regaining ground against established rivals. Both sources highlight that Google has expanded the capabilities of Nano Banana Pro and relevant autonomous functions in the sector, while Anthropic has invested in models with advanced coding and security skills. OpenAI continues to lead in agility and frequency of updates with ChatGPT. Until now, Meta has relied on its built-in assistant on social networks to maintain the attention of billions of users, although the leadership in artificial intelligence remains distant. The determined commitment to Mango and Avocado represents a deliberate attempt by Meta to reduce its technological disadvantage and redefine its role against the competition. With team restructuring and the integration of specialists, Meta seeks to overcome the scattered advances that marked its previous initiatives. If the planned objectives are achieved, the launch of Mango and Avocado could substantially transform Meta's position in artificial intelligence, bringing it closer to the levels of success experienced in other technological products.