Meta, the tech conglomerate behind Facebook and Instagram, is venturing into the realm of humanoid robotics. Bloomberg reports the formation of a new team within the company’s Reality Labs hardware division to develop robots capable of assisting with physical tasks.
This team, led by industry veteran Marc Whitten, will focus on creating humanoid robotics hardware and software, potentially including devices designed to handle household chores. Whitten’s extensive experience at Amazon, Microsoft, and Sonos positions him as a formidable leader for this initiative.
Meta’s strategy in this endeavor differs from its consumer-oriented products. The company aims to establish a hardware foundation for the broader robotics market, much like Google’s success with the Android operating system in the smartphone industry.
To achieve this goal, Meta has initiated discussions with robotics companies such as Unitree Robotics and Figure AI to potentially collaborate on prototyping. These partnerships would leverage external expertise and accelerate the development of practical robotic solutions.
This move into humanoid robotics aligns with Meta’s long-term vision of creating an immersive metaverse, where virtual and physical experiences seamlessly intertwine. Humanoid robots have the potential to become indispensable tools in this future, assisting with daily activities, providing companionship, and fostering human-machine collaboration.
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