Meta is reportedly developing humanoid robots to assist with household tasks.
The company believes that its work in artificial intelligence and augmented reality gives it an advantage in this emerging field. Its long-term goal is to develop the platform that will be used by other companies in...
Meta is developing a new platform focused on creating humanoid robots capable of performing household tasks, such as folding laundry or loading dishes into the dishwasher. The company has formed a team within its Reality Labs division, which is also responsible for the Quest virtual reality headsets and the long-term project of augmented reality glasses, Orion.
Meta's goal seems to be similar to that of Android, which allows other companies to incorporate its software into various devices. In this case, Meta will work on creating sensors, artificial intelligence, and software that will serve as the foundation for other manufacturers to develop their own robots. The company aspires to become the "Android of androids."
In its early stages, Meta's focus will be on household tasks. Among the activities it plans to include are carrying glasses of water and other daily chores, which could trigger both excitement and concern. For some, the idea of robots working at home may be unsettling, especially considering incidents like the one involving the Unitree G1 robot, which displayed aggressive behavior at a recent event.
Meta has also been in preliminary talks with Unitree, which produces an agile "robot dog" capable of moving and climbing, as well as with Figure AI, a humanoid robot manufacturer backed by major investors like OpenAI and Nvidia. Although current robots still lack the sophistication needed to assist in the home like Rosie from The Jetsons, Meta hopes that its investments in artificial intelligence and extended reality (XR) experiences will enable them to make progress toward that goal.
Andrew Bosworth, Meta's CTO, has mentioned that the technologies already developed in Reality Labs complement the advancements needed in robotics. It is estimated that developing useful humanoid robots will take a few more years, but Meta's long-term vision is optimistic. Interest in robotics is not exclusive to Meta; Apple and Google have also shown interest in this field, suggesting that the idea of having robots in the home could be closer to becoming a reality.
