Llama, which stands for Large Language Model Meta AI, is a series of advanced language models developed by Meta. These models can understand and generate human-like text, assisting in tasks such as content creation, translation, and summarization.
Since its initial release in February 2023, Llama has evolved through several versions, with the latest being Llama 3.3, released in December 2024.
By making Llama open-source, Meta allows developers, researchers, and organisations worldwide to access, modify, and implement the technology without significant financial barriers. This openness fosters innovation, enabling diverse applications across various sectors.
In a blog post, Meta said that Spotify is using Llama to improve personalised music and podcast recommendations. By combining Llama’s AI power with Spotify’s expertise, users get better suggestions for new songs, artists, and audiobooks. The AI also helps Spotify’s AI DJs provide richer, real-time commentary, making the listening experience even more engaging.
A team of developers—Srimoyee Mukhopadhyay, Minho Park, and Taegang Kim—won the Austin Llama Impact hackathon with their app, Unveil. The app, according to Meta, uses Llama to recognise landmarks, murals, and sculptures from images and provide interesting facts about them. By guiding people to lesser-known cultural spots, Unveil also helps small businesses attract more visitors.
Fynopsis, a US-based startup, is said to be using Llama to help small businesses manage mergers and acquisitions (M&A) more smoothly. Their AI-powered platform simplifies document management, automatically fills out forms, and translates languages to make international deals easier.
With so many real-world applications, Llama is proving how open-source AI can drive innovation and create new opportunities. Meta is excited to see what comes next as more developers and businesses explore its potential.