Meta Unveils Llama 4 AI Models: Scout, Maverick & Behemoth Lead the Next Wave
Introduction
Meta has once again raised the bar in the AI race by releasing a powerful new lineup of models under the Llama 4 family. The models — unveiled quietly on a Saturday release — include:
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Llama 4 Scout
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Llama 4 Maverick
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Llama 4 Behemoth
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Plus one unnamed experimental variant
These models are designed to serve a wide range of purposes, from lightweight on-device AI to cutting-edge multimodal intelligence that processes text, image, and video data at scale.
Let’s explore what each model brings to the table and how this release positions Meta in the escalating global AI arms race.
What Is Llama 4?
Llama 4 is the latest generation in Meta’s open-source AI model family. Llama (short for “Large Language Model Meta AI”) was originally designed as a research-friendly alternative to proprietary models like GPT and Claude.
The Llama 4 models are trained on:
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Unlabeled text, such as web pages and books
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Images and videos, for vision-language capabilities
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Multimodal datasets, to enable human-like reasoning across formats
Meta claims Llama 4 represents a step-change in model architecture, training efficiency, and real-world usefulness.
Breakdown of the Llama 4 Models
1. Llama 4 Scout
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Lightweight, fast, and ideal for mobile or on-device inference
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Focuses on speed, low latency, and low memory usage
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Competes with Gemini Nano and Mistral’s Tiny models
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Targeted at AR glasses, smartphones, and edge devices
2. Llama 4 Maverick
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General-purpose language model similar to GPT-4 or Claude 3
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Optimized for reasoning, writing, and real-time understanding
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Supports vision and text input
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Meta says it’s tuned to be “less toxic and more helpful”
3. Llama 4 Behemoth
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The powerhouse of the family
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Massive parameters, trained on text, images, videos, and structured data
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Designed for enterprise-scale workloads
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Can summarize 1-hour videos, analyze spreadsheets, and write reports
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Supports agentic AI use cases with reasoning chains
What’s New Compared to Llama 3?
| Feature | Llama 3 | Llama 4 (All Models) |
|---|---|---|
| Multimodal Inputs | ❌ | ✅ Text + Image + Video |
| Training Speed | Moderate | 2x faster via new data curation pipeline |
| Inference Efficiency | OK | Better low-power optimization (Scout) |
| Availability | Research license | Open weights for all (except Behemoth) |
| Use Cases | NLP tasks | End-to-end agents, multimodal AI |
Meta’s Vision: AI for Everyone
With Llama 4, Meta doubles down on its open-source AI mission. Unlike OpenAI, which keeps most models proprietary, Meta’s models are:
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Free for research and commercial use (with attribution)
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Usable on local machines (Scout can run on mobile chips)
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Friendly to fine-tuning and adapter training
Zuckerberg recently stated:
“Open source drives innovation. Llama 4 is part of our commitment to democratize AI.”
Real-World Applications
Llama 4 models could be used for:
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Content generation (Maverick)
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On-device assistants (Scout)
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Business automation & AI agents (Behemoth)
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Data analysis, video summarization, multi-format search
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Augmented Reality (AR) + AI assistants for Meta Quest & Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses
Privacy, Safety & Alignment
Meta claims that Llama 4 is:
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Trained with safety in mind – filtered training sets
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Aligned to be helpful, harmless, honest (HHH principles)
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Equipped with tools for bias detection and auditing
Still, safety researchers want external oversight before mass adoption.
Open Source vs Closed AI: Meta’s Edge?
Here’s how Meta stacks up against rivals:
| Company | Model | Open Source? | Multimodal? | Enterprise Ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meta | Llama 4 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Behemoth) |
| OpenAI | GPT-4 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Anthropic | Claude 3 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mistral | Mixtral | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ Limited |
| Gemini | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Meta’s strategy is clear: own the open-source LLM space while building useful consumer and enterprise tools.
Developer Reactions
GitHub, Reddit, and Hugging Face communities are already exploring Llama 4’s capabilities:
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Developers praise the Scout model’s speed and fine-tuning ease
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AI researchers call Behemoth a “research goldmine”
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Some express concern over the lack of detailed training data disclosure
Meta has promised to publish a model card and transparency report later this week.
Final Thoughts
Meta’s launch of the Llama 4 family is more than just a technical milestone — it’s a strategic push to define the future of AI openness.
Whether you’re a startup founder, AI researcher, or tech-savvy user, the Scout, Maverick, and Behemoth models offer powerful new tools to build the next generation of intelligent applications.
As the AI race accelerates in 2025, Llama 4 proves Meta is here to lead, not follow.
