Meta has announced its first-ever developer conference focused on generative AI, named LlamaCon, scheduled for April 29. The event will highlight the latest developments in Meta’s Llama AI models and open-source AI advancements, aiming to help developers create innovative applications.
Meta has yet to release full details about the conference but has promised updates soon. The company’s annual developer conference, Meta Connect, will still take place later in the year, likely in September.
In recent years, Meta has promoted an open AI approach, allowing developers and businesses to integrate Llama models into their applications. Major companies like Goldman Sachs, AT&T, DoorDash, and Accenture have already adopted Llama for various AI-powered solutions. The model has been downloaded hundreds of millions of times, and at least 25 partners, including Nvidia, Dell, Databricks, Groq, and Snowflake, host Llama models. Some of these partners have built additional tools to optimize the models, making them more efficient and adaptable to specific use cases.
However, Meta has recently faced competition from Chinese AI company DeepSeek, which has released an open AI model that could rival Llama’s capabilities. Reports suggest that Meta is concerned that DeepSeek’s new model may surpass the upcoming version of Llama, expected to launch in the coming weeks. In response, Meta has reportedly set up dedicated teams to analyze DeepSeek’s cost-effective AI deployment strategies, hoping to implement similar efficiencies in its own models.
To stay competitive, Meta is making a significant financial commitment to AI. The company has announced plans to invest up to $80 billion in AI-related projects this year. This funding will be directed toward hiring AI talent and expanding AI infrastructure, including the construction of new data centers.
