Meta claims its new Muse Spark 1.3 model is competitive with Anthropic and OpenAI.
An independent index ranks it third behind two Anthropic models.
Meta now charges for access to this model.
What happened
Meta Platforms Inc. released Muse Spark 1.3, which it says puts it at the same level as the most recent models from OpenAI Group PBC and Anthropic PBC. The model scored 62 on an independent Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, behind only Claude Fable 5.1 and Claude Opus 5 and ahead of OpenAI's models.
Why it matters
Meta has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on AI infrastructure, and investors are nervous about returns. The company has shifted from open-source Llama models to a proprietary strategy similar to Anthropic and OpenAI, and this release suggests Meta could finally start seeing payback from its AI investments.
What to watch
Developers will pay the same price for Muse Spark 1.3 as for version 1.2, launched in August. Meta has not decided whether to release Muse Spark 1.3's weights, and its next model, Watermelon, remains a work in progress.
Ask the AI about this article →
Meta's aggressive release cadence — four Muse Spark models in five months — shows how quickly the company is trying to close the gap with its rivals. The shift away from open-source weight releases marks a strategic pivot, as Meta now follows the proprietary path of Anthropic and OpenAI, partly to address investor concerns over massive spending. Wang's comments highlight efficiency gains, such as using roughly 25% fewer tokens for the same tasks, which could appeal to developers watching costs. The pending decision on weights and the future Watermelon model remain open questions that could shape Meta's competitive position.
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