Company plans to develop robot hardware as well as general AI
Life
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Meta Platforms is venturing into the field of AI-driven humanoid robots after making great strides in augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). The company plans to invest heavily in this emerging category, which includes humanoid robots designed to mimic human actions and assist with physical tasks. To achieve this, Meta is establishing a new team within its Reality Labs hardware division.
This initiative includes the development of both the robot hardware itself, initially focused on household tasks, but also the AI, sensors and software that can be used by other companies that make and sell robots. While Meta’s direct strategy does not involve creating a Meta robot that competes directly with Tesla’s Optimus, this possibility remains open for the future.
Meta’s foray into humanoid robotics joins similar exploratory projects by tech giants such as Apple and Alphabet’s DeepMind division. The company confirmed the formation of the new team to its employees and revealed that Marc Whitten will lead it. Whitten brings extensive experience from his previous roles at General Motors’ Cruise division for self-driving cars, Unity Software and Amazon.com.
Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s chief technology officer, emphasized in a memo that the company’s existing investments in Reality Labs and AI provide a solid foundation for the development of robotics. He highlighted advances in hand motion tracking, low-bandwidth computing and always-on sensors as key strengths.
Meta executives believe their expertise in AI and data collected from augmented and virtual reality devices can accelerate progress in the relatively young field of humanoid robotics. Despite recent advances in hardware by existing humanoid robotics companies, current models are still unable to effectively perform everyday tasks such as folding clothes or carrying a glass of water.
Meta’s vision for this initiative is to use its strengths in AI and data to improve the capabilities of humanoid robots and create practical applications that appeal to consumers. Whitten, who reports to Bosworth, plans to hire about 100 engineers this year to contribute to the team’s ambitious goals.
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