Meta is diving into AI-powered humanoid robots

Meta is looking to be the go-to marketplace for robo-tech, with the company planning to develop its own humanoid robot hardware and later become a lead developer of the robots' AI-based backbone.

The effort will be spearheaded by a new hardware division in Meta's Reality Labs (Quest VR and Ray-Ban smart glasses), reported Bloomberg, and will focus on robotics that can help with household tasks, first. Plans for a Meta-branded robot butler aren't happening yet, according to the company, but they're not off the table.

Meta has also begun talks with robotics companies like Unitree Robotics and Figure AI Inc., the publication reported, as it plans to harness its already existing software, sensors, and computing packages — the same tech powering Reality Labs' offerings and many exploratory autonomous vehicle (AV) projects — along with existing tech and collaborations with manufacturers. Meta's new division will also focus on developing robot safety standards.

"The core technologies we’ve already invested in and built across Reality Labs and AI are complementary to developing the advancements needed for robotics," wrote Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth in an internal memo. "We believe that expanding our portfolio to invest in this field will only accrue value to Meta AI and our mixed and augmented reality programs."

Last week, Meta began a round of global layoffs — set to affect at least 4,000 employees across the U.S., Europe, and Asia — as part of a years-long "efficiency" plan to reduce its workforce and lean into AI. A few weeks prior, Meta had reorganized its internal divisions to allocate more resources to its generative AI group and began fast-tracking hiring for machine learning engineers, reported Reuters.