The Design Loop

Meta Bets Big on Humanoid Robots

Meta is treating humanoid robots as its next “AR-size bet,” building a prototype called Metabot

#
Tools
#
Motion Design

Meta is pushing deeper into robotics with a focus on humanoid machines, under the internal codename Metabot.

Key highlights:

  • Strategic shift to software: Meta plans to license its robotics software to third-party manufacturers rather than focusing on hardware production.
  • New research teams & leadership: The robotics initiative was launched by CTO Andrew Bosworth under CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s direction.
  • Core challenge = software, not hardware: While hardware capabilities exist, the primary bottleneck is achieving dexterous manipulation and real-world intelligence.
  • “World model” development: Meta’s Superintelligence lab is collaborating with robotics to build an AI model that understands spatial, physical, and sensory dynamics.
  • High-profile hires: Talent acquisition includes roboticist Sangbae Kim from MIT and leadership from ex-Cruise CEO Marc Whitten.
  • Differentiating from Tesla’s approach: Meta questions Tesla’s reliance on vision-only robotic learning and is pursuing a more hybrid, data-driven approach.

This move signals Meta’s ambition to expand from AR and AI into embodied, physical systems—tying its virtual and real-world strategies together.

Credit : https://www.theverge.com/column/786759/humanoid-robots-meta

Related Posts

More Like This

Ready to Join the Loop?

It takes five seconds. Join hundreds of other designers who get our free, weekly brief.

Subscribe
By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.