Meta Platforms is establishing a recent division inside its Reality Labs unit to develop AI-powered humanoid robots that may assist with physical tasks, in keeping with an internal company memo viewed by Reuters on Friday.
The Facebook parent is entering the competitive field of humanoid robotics, joining rivals comparable to Nvidia-backed Figure AI and Tesla, because the emergence of advanced AI models drives innovation in robotics and automation.
Within the memo, Meta Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, said the robotics product group would give attention to research and development involving “consumer humanoid robots with a goal of maximizing Llama’s platform capabilities.”
Llama is the name of Meta’s important series of AI foundation models, which power a growing suite of generative AI products on its social media platforms.
The group shall be led by Marc Whitten, the previous CEO of self-driving automobile company Cruise, whom Meta has hired for the role, Bosworth said within the memo, which was first reported by Bloomberg News.
Major tech corporations and startups are pouring billions into developing AI-powered robots for manufacturing, logistics and household tasks, although progress has been slow as researchers found the language-related AI breakthroughs driving chatbot development haven’t necessarily helped with understanding of the physical world.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that the corporate’s humanoid robot “Optimus” could perform many each day tasks and can eventually be sold to customers.
On Thursday, Apptronik secured $350 million in funding backed by investors including Alphabet’s Google to scale the production of its AI-powered humanoid robots designed for tasks in warehouses and manufacturing plants.
Meta didn’t immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.
The corporate plans to develop its own humanoid robot hardware, initially targeting household chores, while aiming to create AI, sensors and software that may power robots manufactured and sold by various corporations, in keeping with the Bloomberg report.
Meta has began discussing its plan with robotics corporations, including Unitree Robotics and Figure AI, and doesn’t immediately plan to launch its own branded humanoid robot, the report said.
