Meta has unveiled a new open-weight artificial intelligence model, Muse Spark Open, which it says can compete with and, in some cases, outperform similar models developed by leading Chinese technology companies.
Meta’s chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, announced the model on Thursday, describing it as “the most capable US open-weight model to date”.
Unlike closed AI systems such as Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, open-weight models allow developers to download their trained parameters, known as weights, and customise them for specific applications.
Chinese technology companies have gained ground in the open-weight AI market, with Alibaba’s Qwen, Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 and Z.ai’s GLM models emerging as notable competitors.
Meta said Muse Spark Open was designed for coding and AI agent-based tasks, including complex software engineering, long-running assignments and multi-step reasoning. The company also said it had incorporated safeguards to reduce the risk of misuse.
Meta Partners Apple on AI Model
The launch highlights a collaboration between Meta and Apple, with Muse Spark Open optimised to run on Apple’s advanced M5 Ultra chips.
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said on X that the model performed well on the new Mac Studio computers following work with Apple and its chief executive, John Ternus.
Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook as Apple CEO in September, welcomed the collaboration, describing the model’s ability to run efficiently on desktop hardware as remarkable.
He added that Mac Studio continued to expand the possibilities for on-device artificial intelligence.
However, running the model locally still requires substantial computing power. Meta said users could connect two Mac Studio computers powered by M5 Ultra chips to create a desktop system capable of running the model.
The approach reflects growing interest in running powerful AI models locally, allowing developers greater control over their computing environments, data and applications.
Meta Intensifies AI Competition
The release follows Meta’s unveiling of two advanced AI models, Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, which the company said could compete with leading offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic.
The models form part of Meta’s broader strategy to strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive artificial intelligence industry.
Meta initially concentrated on open-weight models, particularly its Llama family, which allowed developers to download model weights and adapt them for different applications.
The company has since intensified efforts to compete directly with leading AI developers through advanced models, increased research spending, computing infrastructure and specialist talent.
The launch of Muse Spark Open signals Meta’s continued pursuit of both approaches: developing advanced AI systems while making selected model weights available to developers.
By combining open-weight access with optimisation for Apple’s high-end desktop computers, Meta aims to broaden access to its technology and enable developers to build more sophisticated AI applications.