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Meta has released a new artificial intelligence model that can run on personal computers, as chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg outlined his vision for expanding access to open-source AI.
Meta’s announcement comes as the United States faces growing debate over access to advanced AI technology, alongside opposition to the rapid expansion of data centres needed to power the systems.
Zuckerberg outlined his broader vision for AI in a lengthy essay published alongside the launch, arguing that the technology should be widely distributed rather than controlled primarily by large companies and governments.
In an Instagram video on Monday, Zuckerberg said Meta would make the latest model’s weights publicly available, allowing users to download and run it themselves.
AI weights are the numerical parameters that determine how a model processes information and generates responses.
Meta also plans to release a new class of open-source models capable of running on laptops, further reducing reliance on large data centres.
Zuckerberg argued that AI development should give individuals greater control over the technology rather than concentrating its power in institutions.
“Rather than centralising superintelligence, we should distribute it widely and give every person the ability to direct it,” Zuckerberg said in his essay.
He criticised AI companies focused primarily on developing systems for businesses, governments and other organisations, saying that approach could shift power further towards institutions and away from individuals.
Zuckerberg also warned that US AI developers face disadvantages because of restrictions on the data they can use to train their models, while foreign competitors may operate under fewer constraints.
He rejected tighter restrictions on foreign open-source AI models as an effective response, arguing instead that the US should focus on making its own open-source models globally competitive.
Zuckerberg said this would require removing regulatory and other barriers that make it harder for American developers to compete.
The Meta chief also addressed growing opposition to data-centre projects across the United States, announcing a new fund to provide direct support to communities hosting the company’s facilities.
“I do not believe restricting access to foreign open source models is an effective solution,” he said.
“Our goal should be for American open source models to be the best globally. This requires removing the hurdles that make it harder for American open source models to compete,” he added.
Meta’s move comes as rivals including OpenAI and Anthropic continue to focus largely on closed AI models, which are not publicly available for download or modification.
