Meta, one of the leading tech giants, is reportedly building a humanoid robot, armed with artificial intelligence, that is designed to help a person in everyday housework. The initiative is set up under a new branch at Reality Labs inside Meta.
The plan is for robots to help fold laundry or load dishes into a dishwasher. The company will mostly direct its plans toward rolling out software, sensors, and AI tech needed to power their robots. Instead of branding these robots with their name, Meta will engage in a partnership with manufacturing companies. Currently, discussions are underway with notable robotics companies such as Unitree Robotics and Figure AI over a possible collaboration on the undertaking.
Andrew Bosworth, Chief Technology Officer at Meta, elaborated that big investments will be continuing in Reality Labs and artificial intelligence to take robotics somewhere never envisioned before. To lead this initiative, Meta has appointed Marc Whitten, former CEO of Cruise, as Vice President of Robotics. Having previously worked with Microsoft, Unity, and Amazon, Whitten brings in a wealth of experience and skills. Meta looks forward to having its expertise available for developing and executing its robotics plan.
Additionally, it is not just Meta looking into home-based robotics possibilities. Apple has focused components of the robotic side of its smart-home products; Google took a methodology on it. The company’s publishing of research papers and ramping up funding for robotics studies means there is grain to these changes that Meta and other such large-profile firms may gradually bring back the former idea of robots like Rosey from The Jetsons into some forms of reality.