Meta releases Llama 4, a new crop of flagship AI models

Tech Crunch - Apr 5th, 2025
Open on Tech Crunch

Meta has launched a new series of AI models known as Llama 4, which includes Llama 4 Scout, Maverick, and Behemoth. These models are designed to enhance visual understanding by being trained on extensive amounts of text, image, and video data. While Scout and Maverick are available for use, Behemoth is still undergoing training. The release comes in response to competition from Chinese AI lab DeepSeek, which has developed models that rival Meta's previous offerings. The Llama 4 models incorporate a mixture of experts (MoE) architecture, allowing for more efficient data processing and query responses. However, the deployment is limited by restrictions, particularly in the EU, due to regional AI and data privacy laws.

Meta's Llama 4 models represent a significant evolution in the AI landscape, particularly with their enhanced ability to engage with contentious topics more openly. This adjustment comes as a response to criticisms about political biases in AI, with Meta claiming that Llama 4 offers more balanced responses. The models have varying strengths—Scout excels at document summarization, while Maverick is suited for general assistant and chat functions. Nevertheless, they are not considered reasoning models like some of OpenAI's offerings. Meta's move to address bias and expand AI capabilities demonstrates a strategic effort to remain competitive amidst growing scrutiny and regulatory challenges in the AI sector.

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RATING

6.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a comprehensive overview of Meta's release of the Llama 4 models, highlighting their capabilities and the associated ethical and regulatory challenges. It effectively communicates complex technical concepts in an accessible manner, contributing to the ongoing discourse on AI advancements. However, the story could benefit from more diverse perspectives and independent verification of the claims made by Meta. While it addresses issues of public interest and has the potential to influence discussions about AI ethics and regulation, the reliance on a single source and lack of transparency in methodology limit its overall impact. Overall, the article is timely and relevant, offering valuable insights into the current state of AI technology and its implications for society.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The article presents a detailed account of Meta's release of the Llama 4 models, including specifics about the models' capabilities and licensing restrictions. However, some claims, such as the exact performance of these models compared to competitors like GPT-4.5 and Gemini 2.5 Pro, require further verification. The story accurately describes the models' architecture and training data but lacks independent verification of these claims. Furthermore, the article mentions that Behemoth is still in training, which aligns with the information provided by Meta, but the performance claims need more evidence. The mention of the EU licensing restrictions and the need for special licenses for companies with over 700 million users are factual but need confirmation of the specific laws involved.

6
Balance

The article attempts to provide a balanced perspective by discussing both the advancements and limitations of the Llama 4 models. It highlights Meta's efforts to address political and social biases, which are critical issues in AI development. However, the story could have included more viewpoints from independent experts or critics to provide a more rounded discussion. The mention of political bias and the adjustments made by Meta could have been balanced with insights from external analysts or AI ethicists to offer a more comprehensive view of the potential implications.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow of information. It effectively explains complex technical concepts, such as the mixture of experts (MoE) architecture, in a way that is accessible to a general audience. The language is neutral and informative, making it easy for readers to understand the key points. However, some sections, particularly those discussing performance benchmarks, could benefit from further simplification or additional context to enhance comprehension.

5
Source quality

The article relies heavily on information from Meta, which is a primary source but may have inherent biases. There is a lack of external sources or expert opinions to corroborate the claims made by Meta. This reliance on a single source limits the article's credibility and leaves room for potential conflicts of interest, as the company may present its products in the most favorable light. Including perspectives from AI researchers or industry analysts could enhance the article's reliability.

6
Transparency

The article provides a detailed account of the features and capabilities of the Llama 4 models, but it lacks transparency in explaining the methodology behind the performance comparisons. While it mentions Meta's internal testing, it does not disclose specific benchmarks or metrics used. The story could benefit from a clearer explanation of how the models were evaluated and the criteria for determining their performance relative to competitors.

Sources

  1. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/05/nintendo-unveils-the-switch-2/
  2. https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-introduces-llama-4-with-two-new-models-available-now-and-two-more-on-the-way-214524295.html
  3. https://beamstart.com/news/go-back-to-the-grid-17438838578428
  4. https://www.databricks.com/blog/introducing-metas-llama-4-databricks-data-intelligence-platform
  5. https://beamstart.com/news/deels-comms-chief-departs-amidst-17438794888828