Meta Platforms Announces Watermelon AI Model Parity with OpenAI
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) disclosed that its forthcoming artificial‑intelligence system, internally codenamed Watermelon, has achieved performance comparable to OpenAI’s flagship GPT‑5.5 model. The statement was delivered by Meta’s superintelligence chief Alexandr Wang during a town‑hall session, and the information was reported by Business Insider on 3 July 2026. Wang referenced two unnamed sources but did not specify the exact benchmarks or evaluation metrics used to substantiate the claim.
Meta has historically trailed competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic in AI capabilities, despite allocating billions of dollars toward specialized chips, expansive data‑center infrastructure, and talent acquisition. In April, the company launched the Muse Spark model, which performed well on certain benchmarks yet was acknowledged as still falling short of rival offerings.
The AI initiative is being closely overseen by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who personally monitors development progress. Zuckerberg recruited Wang in the previous year to head Meta’s AI division, underscoring the strategic priority placed on catching up with leading AI providers.
No quantitative performance figures, timeline for Watermelon’s release, or pricing details were provided in the article.