Before the current craze of generative AI, tech companies were going pretty hard on robotics instead, and the previous popular field of AI that is machine learning. We’ve seen some sort of a resurgence in robotics, with OpenAI and Apple, among other big names in tech, making the news. It seems Meta is also throwing its name in the arena, though with a different ultimate goal in mind.
Bloomberg reports that it is now making its move into AI-powered humanoid robots that act like humans and assist with physical tasks. The report cites people familiar with the matter who also say that humanoid robot hardware with a focus on household chores is only the initial phase. The bigger ambition that Meta has is instead making sensors and software, including its underlying AI, for the robots that other companies will be selling.
All that being said, Meta is not completely ruling out the possibility of selling its own robots. The report mentions specifically Tesla’s Optimus as a competitor, as well as Unitree Robotics and Figure AI as potential collaborators in its own venture.
In a sense, Meta wants to be to robots what Android is to phones – providing most of the underlying tech behind the product, while occasionally participating in making said product. But while Android phones come in all sorts of price points, the only point of comparison we have right now for humanoid robots is Tesla’s Optimus, which Elon Musk has said will cost under US$20,000 (~RM88,590).
(Source: Bloomberg)
