Zuckerberg’s Big Bet in the AI Race: After Google’s ‘Banana’, Meta Prepares to Launch ‘Mango’

By Siddhi Jain | Dec 21, 2025, 08:29 IST

Meta Mango vs Google Banana: The global race for artificial intelligence dominance is no longer just about technology—it has turned into a fierce battle for talent, innovation, and market leadership. In recent months, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has shaken the tech industry by aggressively hiring top AI researchers from rival companies. Now, pushing this strategy further, Meta is reportedly working on a brand-new AI model codenamed ‘Mango’, designed specifically for image and video intelligence. If reports are accurate, Mango could launch in the first half of 2026, positioning Meta as a direct challenger to OpenAI and Google.

Mango AI: A Model Built for Images and Video

Unlike traditional image-generation tools, Mango is expected to go far beyond basic visuals. According to leaks and industry reports, this AI model is being trained to deeply understand visual data and interpret the physical world more effectively than current models.

One of the most talked-about features of Mango is its advanced text-to-video capability. With this, users may be able to generate highly realistic, detailed videos simply by entering text prompts. If successful, this could set a new industry benchmark for creators, advertisers, filmmakers, and enterprise users.

Experts believe Mango’s ability to understand motion, context, and real-world physics could make it a powerful tool for:

Content creators and influencers
Marketing and advertising agencies
Film, gaming, and animation studios
Enterprises using AI-driven visual simulations

This focus on high-quality video generation puts Mango in direct competition with OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s next-generation multimodal AI systems.

Is Meta Moving Away From Open-Source AI?

For years, Meta has been seen as a strong supporter of open-source AI, especially through its popular Llama language models. These models helped Meta gain credibility and influence among developers worldwide.

However, Mango may signal a major strategic shift.

Reports suggest that Mango could be a closed or partially closed model, with limited free access and premium features available only through paid plans. If this happens, it would mark a clear move toward monetizing AI at scale—similar to the strategies followed by OpenAI and Google.

This shift indicates that Meta may no longer rely solely on open-source goodwill and is now looking to build a sustainable AI revenue model, especially as AI infrastructure costs continue to rise.

Meta’s Parallel Push: ‘Avocado’ Text AI

Meta’s ambitions are not limited to visual AI alone. Alongside Mango, the company is reportedly developing a text-based AI model codenamed ‘Avocado’. While details remain scarce, Avocado is expected to strengthen Meta’s position in conversational AI, productivity tools, and enterprise applications.

Industry insiders believe that Avocado and Mango could launch around the same time, possibly in the first half of 2026. This would allow Meta to offer a more complete AI ecosystem—covering text, images, and video—similar to what OpenAI and Google already provide.

Direct Clash With OpenAI and Google

At present, OpenAI and Google dominate the AI landscape. From ChatGPT and Sora to Gemini and advanced AI-powered search, these companies are setting the pace for innovation. New players like Perplexity are also gaining traction, making the competition even tougher.

For Meta, catching up will not be easy. However, Zuckerberg is betting big on:

Massive AI infrastructure investments
Aggressive hiring of top AI talent
Meta’s enormous global user base across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

If Meta can successfully integrate Mango into its platforms, it could instantly reach billions of users—something very few AI companies can match.

Why the Name ‘Mango’ Matters

After Google’s playful internal AI naming like ‘Banana’, Meta’s ‘Mango’ may sound fun on the surface. But industry observers see it as a symbol of something much bigger—a serious attempt by Meta to reposition itself as a core AI powerhouse, not just a social media company experimenting with AI features.

The real test, however, will come after launch.

What to Watch Going Forward

The biggest question remains: Can Mango truly compete with OpenAI and Google?

Its success will depend on:

Output quality and realism
Pricing and accessibility
Integration with Meta’s apps
Developer and enterprise adoption

If Mango delivers on its promises, it could reshape the AI video and image generation market. If not, it risks becoming just another ambitious name in an already crowded AI race.

Final Takeaway

Meta’s Mango is more than just a new AI model—it represents Mark Zuckerberg’s boldest AI gamble yet. With the company seemingly shifting from open-source ideals toward premium, closed AI offerings, Meta is clearly signaling its intent to play in the big leagues.

Whether Mango becomes a true game-changer or simply another contender will only be clear after its launch. Until then, the AI world will be watching closely—because the battle between Meta, Google, and OpenAI is far from over.