Meta has just unveiled two new additions to its AI portfolio, introducing Llama 4 Scout and Llama 4 Maverick — the first multimodal models in the Llama 4 family. These advanced open-source models are now accessible across Meta’s popular platforms, including WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram Direct, and Meta.ai.
The debut of Llama 4 Scout and Maverick marks a significant leap in Meta’s open-source AI strategy. According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, this release represents a major step toward making top-tier AI capabilities openly available, as part of the company’s vision to democratize cutting-edge technology.
Meet Llama 4 Scout: Compact, Efficient, and Exceptionally Powerful
Llama 4 Scout is designed as a smaller yet high-performing multimodal model, built on a Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture. With a 10 million token context length and 17 billion parameters spread across 16 specialized expert pathways, this model is optimized to run smoothly on a single Nvidia H100 GPU — making it ideal for developers and researchers with limited computational resources.
Despite its lightweight design, Scout delivers outstanding results. Meta claims it surpasses leading models like GPT-4o and Gemini Flash 2 in various benchmark tests. Compared to similar models like DeepSeek V3, Llama 4 Scout is not only more compact but also significantly more efficient, offering strong performance even when deployed on a single server.
Llama 4 Maverick: Strength Meets Flexibility
While Meta hasn’t released full technical specifications for Maverick just yet, it complements Scout by offering a versatile AI experience across multiple communication platforms. Designed to integrate seamlessly into Meta’s ecosystem, Maverick is geared toward dynamic, responsive interactions in real-time chat applications.
What’s Next for Llama 4?
Meta has two more models in the pipeline:
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Llama 4 Reasoning: Expected to launch next month, this model will focus on advanced logical and analytical tasks.
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Llama 4 Behemoth: Currently in training, Behemoth will be Meta’s most ambitious project yet — a massive model with an anticipated two trillion parameters, aiming to push the boundaries of AI performance.
Availability and Licensing
Both Llama 4 Scout and Maverick are now available for free download on Meta’s official platforms and Hugging Face. However, users should be aware that licensing terms may vary and could include restrictions on certain types of usage or distribution.
Why This Matters
The release of Llama 4 Scout and Maverick isn’t just another model drop — it signals a broader shift toward accessible, high-performance AI for the wider development community. With more models set to launch soon, Meta appears committed to reshaping the open-source AI landscape in a big way.
