Forward-looking: Meta is reportedly planning major investments in AI-powered humanoid robots. The company is said to be in the initial stages of developing futuristic bots that can perform household chores, and is already assembling a crack team for the cutting-edge project.
According to sources quoted by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Meta does not intend to develop a branded robot like Tesla's Optimus. Instead, the company is looking at supplying the sensors and AI software to OEMs that will manufacture and sell the actual hardware. However, Meta hasn't written off the possibility of developing a first-party humanoid robot in the future.
To get the project off the ground, Meta is assembling a new team led by Marc Whitten, the former CEO of GM's Cruise self-driving car division. The team will be part of Meta's Reality Labs hardware unit that is responsible for products like the Quest VR headset and the Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Building any piece of machinery comes with its own set of risks, and the robots will be no exception. To alleviate safety concerns, Meta will develop software and hardware tools to prevent accidents, such as a person's fingers getting caught in the robot's machinery. The company also plans to ensure that nothing untoward happens if the power goes off unexpectedly or the device malfunctions in the middle of a task.
Meta has yet to officially announce its humanoid robot project, so the exact details about it are still murky. However, the company is said to be in negotiations with major robotics and AI firms, including Unitree Robotics and Figure AI Inc, for collaborations on the project.
According to one of the sources, Meta is still at least a couple of years away from bringing the humanoid robot to the market, and it could take "years" for the company's robotic platform to underpin third-party products. There's no word on the price either, but given that Tesla is targeting a $30,000 price tag for the consumer version of Optimus, we don't expect this to be affordable.
It is worth noting that some media outlets are already billing this development as possible competition for Tesla's Optimus, but the report suggests that the two may not be direct competitors, at least initially. According to Gurman, Meta wants to sell its robot to families for household chores and home automation, while Tesla is focused on selling the Optimus to businesses and factories to replace human workers.
Meta is developing humanoid robots designed for household chores
