For years, Meta has treated its artificial intelligence development like a digital farmers market. Internally, the tech giant leaned heavily into produce themed codenames, labeling various language and image models Avocado and Mango. Even its most recent frontier model, known publicly as Wonder Full, spent its early days under the whimsical moniker Watermelon. However, according to sources familiar with the matter, those days are officially over as the company pivots away from fruit based nomenclature.
The shift appears to be driven by a desire for a brand identity that better aligns with Meta’s high stakes ambitions in the AI race. While playful nicknames may work during initial research phases, executives feel that fruity labels lack the gravity required for cutting edge technology intended to reshape the global internet landscape. This sentiment was echoed recently on the Cheeky Pint podcast, where CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted that the company had simply run out of suitable options.
Zuckerberg noted that it was time to move toward a new naming convention after exhausting their list of favorite snacks. Adding some humor to the transition, AI chief Alexandr Wang suggested that while there might still be oversized fruits left available, such as the pungent durian, that was perhaps one direction the company should avoid taking.
This trend of moving away from mundane objects is happening across Silicon Valley as generative AI matures into something more formidable. Other players like OpenAI and Google have flirted with grocery store themes in the past using names like Garlic and Nano Banana, but there is a growing preference for evocative titles. As companies look to project power and sophistication, they are opting for awe inspiring brands like Anthropic’s Mythos or OpenAI’s Astra instead of things found in a crisper drawer.
