Meta Unveils New Open AI Model That Rivals OpenAI and Google Models [Video]

Meta (META) unveiled Llama 3.1, its most capable open-source artificial intelligence (AI) model yet, on Tuesday.

The Facebook parent said the new open model rivals or outperforms those from Microsoft-backed (MSFT) OpenAI, Alphabet (GOOGL), and Amazon-backed (AMZN) Anthropic, as competition between AI model makers heats up.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been vocal supporter of open AI, promoting the use of open-source tools that can help the company gain influence in the AI race with OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, which make closed AI models.

The new open AI model is available to users in the U.S. on WhatsApp and meta.ai. Llama 3.1 is also available through Meta’s partner ecosystems, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and others.

Meta shares were up 1.1% at $492.80 around 1:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, contributing to the stock’s nearly 40% year-to-date gain.