Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META, ETR:FB2A, SWX:FB) has delayed the release of its next-generation artificial intelligence model, sending its shares down 2.3% in after-hours trading.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the Facebook parent has reportedly paused internal timelines for launching its “Behemoth” large language model, citing engineering challenges and internal concerns about the direction of its multi-billion-dollar AI push.
Company insiders said efforts to significantly improve the model’s capabilities have so far fallen short.
Meta is projecting $72 billion in capital expenditure this year, with a substantial share earmarked for data centre infrastructure and AI development.
The delay is seen as a setback for a company that has been viewed as a frontrunner in the sector’s emerging AI arms race.
While executives, including chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, have not committed publicly to a release schedule, sources said an earlier launch is still possible.
Meta declined to comment.