Meta’s AI Strategy: Balancing Internal Development with Google and OpenAI Partnerships

Meta Platforms is navigating the complex landscape of artificial intelligence by pursuing a multi-faceted strategy that combines internal development with potential partnerships with industry leaders like Google and OpenAI. This approach comes as Meta faces challenges in releasing competitive AI models and seeks to enhance AI features across its applications.

Internal AI Development: The “Avocado” Model and Future Plans

Meta has been heavily investing in its own AI capabilities, reportedly spending billions on talent acquisition and data center infrastructure. In January 2026, Meta projected spending up to $135 billion on AI development this year, nearly double the $72 billion spent in the previous year [1]. However, the company recently delayed the release of its next-generation AI model, internally known as “Avocado,” by at least two months due to underwhelming performance in internal testing.

Despite outperforming Meta’s previous AI model and even Google’s Gemini 2.5 (from March 2025), Avocado lagged behind Google’s more recent Gemini 3.0 (November 2025) in key areas such as reasoning, coding, and writing [1]. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has expressed confidence in the company’s trajectory, stating that their initial models will be good and demonstrate rapid improvement [1]. The company aims to ensure its next-generation model, Llama 5, can effectively compete with rival offerings [2].

Exploring Partnerships with Google and OpenAI

In response to the setbacks with Avocado, Meta is considering strategic partnerships with Google and OpenAI to bolster its AI capabilities. Leaders within Meta’s AI division have discussed the possibility of temporarily licensing Google’s Gemini model to power its products [1], [2].

Discussions have also included leveraging OpenAI’s models to enhance Meta AI and other AI features within Meta’s social media applications [2]. These partnerships are viewed as potential temporary solutions to enhance Meta’s AI products while its own models continue to develop [2].

Internal Integration of External AI Tools

Meta has already begun integrating external AI models into internal tools for its employees. For example, employees can utilize Anthropic models for coding tasks through the company’s internal coding assistant [2]. Meta has also given employees access to Google Gemini and OpenAI’s GPT-5 alongside its own AI tools to boost productivity [3].

According to a Meta spokesperson, the company is adopting an “all-of-the-above” approach to AI development, encompassing internal model building, partnerships, and open-source technology [2].

The Broader AI Landscape in 2026

The current AI landscape is characterized by intense competition between OpenAI, Google, and Meta. The race to develop and deploy leading-edge AI models is driving significant investment and innovation [4]. Meta’s strategic flexibility, combining internal efforts with external collaborations, positions it to remain a key player in this evolving field.