On Feb. 14, Meta Platforms announced the establishment of a new division within its Reality Labs unit to develop AI-powered humanoid robots aimed at assisting with physical tasks, as revealed in an internal company memo seen by Reuters.
This move marks Meta's entry into the competitive realm of humanoid robotics, aligning with competitors like Nvidia-backed Figure AI and Tesla. Meta's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, disclosed in the memo that the robotics product group will concentrate on researching and developing "consumer humanoid robots with a goal of maximizing Llama's platform capabilities." Llama refers to Meta's primary series of AI models supporting various generative AI products on its social media platforms.
The newly-formed group will be spearheaded by Marc Whitten, former CEO of Cruise, a self-driving car company. Notably, Meta has recruited Whitten for this role. This information was initially reported by Bloomberg News.
Various tech companies and startups are heavily investing in AI-powered robotic technology for diverse applications such as manufacturing, logistics, and household chores. Progress has been sluggish, owing to the challenge that language-related AI advancements — primarily seen in chatbot technologies — do not directly translate to enhanced physical understanding.
Meanwhile, Tesla's Elon Musk has proposed that the company's humanoid robot, named "Optimus," will eventually be commercially available to execute routine tasks.
In another development, Apptronik has secured $350 million in funding from investors, including Google's Alphabet, to scale up the production of its AI-powered humanoid robots tailored for use in warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
Meta is planning to design its humanoid robot hardware, with a preliminary focus on household chores, while also aiming to develop AI technologies, sensors, and software that can power robots manufactured and marketed by different companies. This initiative has been discussed with various robotics firms like Unitree Robotics and Figure AI, with no immediate plans disclosed for Meta to launch its branded humanoid robot.