Meet the Llama Family: Scout, Maverick, and Behemoth
The Llama 4 lineup includes three models: Llama 4 Scout, Llama 4 Maverick, and the yet-to-be-released Llama 4 Behemoth. Each model is designed to cater to different needs, much like a well-stocked kitchen catering to both chai lovers and coffee enthusiasts.
- Llama 4 Scout: This compact model is so efficient it can run on a single Nvidia H100 GPU, making it perfect for those who want AI capabilities without needing a data center in their living room.
- Llama 4 Maverick: The rebellious middle child, Maverick has already caused a stir by outperforming competitors like OpenAI's GPT-4o and Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash in reasoning and coding benchmarks. It's the AI equivalent of that one cousin who always tops the class without trying.
- Llama 4 Behemoth: Still in development, Behemoth is rumored to be so powerful it might just predict the next plot twist in your favorite soap opera.
Multimodal Marvel: Because One Mode Is Too Mainstream
Llama 4 is a multimodal AI system, meaning it can process text, images, audio, and video. In other words, it can judge your taste in music, critique your photography skills, and correct your grammar—all at once.
Open-Source: Sharing Is Caring
In a move that has both delighted developers and terrified competitors, Meta has made Llama 4's models open-source. This means anyone can access and modify the AI, leading to endless possibilities and, inevitably, some questionable applications.
Benchmark Brouhaha: Gaming the System?
Meta's Llama 4 Maverick recently climbed the ranks on AI benchmark site LMArena, surpassing heavyweights like GPT-4o. However, it was later revealed that the version submitted was an experimental, chat-optimized variant not available to the public. This has raised questions about the integrity of AI benchmarking, but Meta assures us it was all in the spirit of experimentation.
Investment in AI: Betting the Farm on Llamas
Meta is investing up to $65 billion in AI initiatives, emphasizing a significant focus on generative AI. CEO Mark Zuckerberg aims to establish Llama as a global standard, with Meta AI chatbots already engaging 600 million users monthly across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.