The AI race is intensifying, and Meta has just made a bold move with the release of Llama 4. Aimed at challenging industry giants such as OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 and Google’s Gemini, Meta’s Llama 4 models push the limits of AI performance, efficiency, and accessibility.
Meta’s Llama models have undergone significant evolution. While Llama 2 and 3 were limited to 7 and 8 billion parameters, Llama 4 takes things further with up to 17 billion parameters. Additionally, Llama 4 Behemoth, with an astonishing 2 trillion parameters, places Meta firmly in the race for AI supremacy.
Meta’s latest Llama models offer a major boost to open-source AI, with the aim of accelerating innovation and democratizing access to this advanced technology.
So far, Meta has unveiled two versions: Scout and Maverick. Scout is designed for speed, boasting a 10-million-token context window. Meta claims that this allows it to handle more complex tasks than other models like Google’s Gemini 7B or Mistral 7B, all while running on a single Nvidia H100 GPU. This makes high-performance AI more accessible to developers without the need for large cloud budgets.
Maverick, on the other hand, utilizes a mixture-of-experts (MoE) system with 128 experts. Instead of running the full model for every task, Maverick activates only the necessary components, resulting in greater efficiency. Despite its smaller compute footprint, it competes with the performance of GPT-4 and Gemini 2.0 Flash.
Llama 4 Behemoth, still in development, promises to be a powerhouse with its 2 trillion parameters. Early reports suggest that it may surpass models like GPT-4.5 and Claude Sonnet 3.7, particularly in STEM tasks. However, we’ll have to wait for official benchmarks to confirm this.
What sets Llama 4 apart is not just its size or speed, but Meta’s unique approach to AI. The MoE architecture reduces compute demands by activating only the required parts of the model for each task. This could reduce costs and make AI more accessible. If other companies, from open-source players like Mistral to enterprise-focused solutions like Cohere, adopt this approach, we could see the spread of faster and more affordable AI that goes beyond just the tech giants.
Meta is also changing the game by licensing Llama 4 models to developers and businesses, making them more accessible than proprietary systems. The models are integrated into Meta’s platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, paving the way for more efficient, modular AI systems in the future, where power doesn’t necessarily equate to size.
Llama 4 could be Meta’s key to reshaping the AI landscape, driving innovation, and possibly altering the economics of the industry.
“Nigerian Fashion Entrepreneurs Urged to Promote African Heritage at Ibadan Urban Fashion Week 2025”
Nigerian fashion brands, entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and models have been urged to adopt a global perspective in their endeavors, utilizing their platforms to promote Nigerian and African culture and heritage.
This call was made on Saturday in Ibadan during the fourth edition of the annual Ibadan Urban Fashion Week (IUFW) 2025, themed ‘Promoting Growth of Fashion in Africa.’
Olasoji Awofesobi, a fashion entrepreneur and the convener of IUFW, explained that the core purpose of the event is to redefine African fashion and present Nigerian urban fashion culture to the world, allowing other cultures to appreciate Nigerian fashion and its wearers.
Awofesobi further emphasized that the event aims to provide a platform for emerging fashion designers, enthusiasts, creators, and brands to showcase their talents, acquire new skills, and exchange experiences.
“Fashion is more than just clothing and designs. It encompasses the creative, business, branding, and networking aspects that many fashion entrepreneurs need to understand. This is why we are organizing workshops, panel discussions, runway shows, and networking opportunities,” he noted.
In her keynote speech, Dr. Tinu Smith, founder of Datina Designs and a business coach, declared that Nigeria is the trade hub of Africa because everyone desires to wear Nigerian-made fashion.
Smith highlighted that the potential and global recognition of the Nigerian fashion industry are rooted in its rich cultural heritage, diverse traditional textiles, and its financial impact, which she estimates to be worth billions of naira and a key contributor to the nation’s GDP.
Discussing the challenges faced by fashion business owners in Nigeria, she advised Nigerians and Africans to focus inward and begin supporting locally-made clothes and fashion products to boost local fashion entrepreneurs.
She also encouraged fashion entrepreneurs to perfect their craft, gain a deep understanding of the industry, and utilize technology to enhance their brands, telling their stories through fashion in a meaningful way. She stressed that, with commitment and advocacy for Nigerian culture, success in the business is achievable.
Omolola Elsie Oluwale, a human resource expert and founder of Lighthouse HR, provided insights on the strategic and planning aspects of the fashion business, advising fashion entrepreneurs on how to craft effective business plans, secure funding, hire top talent, and sustain their businesses and brands.
Oluwale stressed that any business, including fashion, requires a business plan to ensure a clear direction and profitable outcomes.
Motolani Akintayo, a clinical psychologist and advocate for female empowerment; Chisom Mabia, a social entrepreneur and co-founder of Women Initiative for Family Entrepreneurial Empowerment (WIFEE); and Gwendolyn Oshoniyi, an author and media consultant, also shared their expertise during the event, offering valuable advice in their respective areas.
A panel session titled ‘Brand Owners and Mental Health,’ moderated by broadcast journalist and event compere Catherine Adeogun, addressed the mental health challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Panelists included Awofesobi, Dr. Smith, Oluwale, Mabia, Oshoniyi, and Akintayo.
The panel emphasized that the entrepreneurial journey can be stressful and isolating, often leading to mistakes that, if not addressed, can result in mental health issues. They highlighted the importance of regular conversations about mental health, noting that the severity of the condition depends on how it is managed, not the circumstances causing it.
To combat stress and mental exhaustion, the panelists advised brand owners to seek strong support and mentorship, maximize personal and family time, build positive relationships with staff and clients, and protect their peace from negative influences.
The event featured 15 exhibitors showcasing their products, with eight designers gracing the runway. The occasion was attended by models, fashion entrepreneurs, and fashion enthusiasts.
Awofesobi concluded, “The runway was a resounding success. People were thrilled, and it significantly boosted the visibility and patronage of the designers.”
