Meta Delays Release of Multimodal Llama AI Model in the EU Market

Meta has announced that it will not launch its upcoming multimodal AI model, which can handle video, audio, images, and text, in the European Union due to regulatory concerns. This decision restricts European companies from utilizing the multimodal model, even though it will be released under an open license. “We will release a multimodal Llama model over the coming months, but not in the EU due to the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment,” stated Meta spokesperson Kate McLaughlin.

Last week, the EU established compliance deadlines for AI companies under the stringent AI Act, requiring tech firms to adhere to rules regarding copyright, transparency, and AI applications, including predictive policing, by August 2026.

Meta's decision aligns with Apple's recent announcement, which indicated that the EU might be excluded from its Apple Intelligence rollout due to concerns about the Digital Markets Act. Additionally, Meta has paused plans to introduce its AI assistant in the EU and temporarily halted its generative AI tools in Brazil, citing data protection compliance issues.

A text-only version of Meta’s Llama 3 model is still expected to launch in the EU. Meta intends to use its multimodal AI models in products like Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. However, it appears that future multimodal AI model releases will also exclude the EU, leaving companies outside the region in a challenging position as they seek to offer products and services leveraging these models in one of the world’s largest economic markets. The EU has not yet commented on Meta’s decision, while Apple’s potential AI restrictions have drawn criticism from the EU’s competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager.