Meta's hatch AI platform and watermelon model set for launch

According to internal documents cited by The Information, Meta Platforms is set to launch its consumer-facing AI agent platform, Hatch, within the next few weeks. The company also plans to release its next-generation AI model, Watermelon, in October. This move is seen as a strategic effort by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to commercialize AI investments and diversify revenue streams beyond advertising. Hatch is designed as a consumer-level AI agent product, developed based on the OpenClaw direction, with the goal of transitioning from traditional conversational AI to more advanced intelligent assistants capable of performing tasks independently. Early versions of the platform have been trained to access services such as DoorDash, Etsy, Reddit, Yelp, and Outlook, with plans to introduce customizable panels for users to manage tools and skills created by the agents. Meta is exploring a tiered subscription model for Hatch, with a premium version potentially costing up to $199.99 per month and offering higher usage limits. This approach indicates the company's intention to generate direct revenue from AI products and reduce its reliance on advertising. In parallel, Meta is advancing its new AI model, Watermelon, which is expected to be released in October. It remains unclear whether Watermelon will be integrated into Meta's existing model system or launched as a standalone model. Over recent years, Meta has accelerated its AI model and agent development, launching the Muse Spark series of models and AI products tailored for programming and tool invocation scenarios. The company has also pursued its AI strategy through both open models and commercialized agents. The launch of Hatch and Watermelon signals Meta's shift from AI model development to consumer-level agent applications, positioning it to compete with companies like OpenAI and Anthropic in the AI assistant market.