Meta Plans AI Software Backbone Role for Humanoid Robots

Meta Platforms Inc. is strategically positioning itself to become the software backbone for humanoid robots, focusing on licensing its AI technology rather than manufacturing hardware. CTO Andrew Bosworth emphasized that software, not hardware, is the bottleneck in robotics, with Meta developing AI models like Llama and a "world model" to enable robots to perform complex tasks such as dexterous manipulation. This approach is similar to Google's Android ecosystem for smartphones, aiming to provide an operating system that other robot manufacturers can integrate. Meta has established dedicated teams within its Reality Labs and Superintelligence AI lab to advance this effort, including innovations in touch sensing and AI-powered robots capable of assisting with household chores. While companies like Apple, Google, and Tesla also pursue robotics, Meta's unique focus lies in creating the intelligent software platform that can democratize and accelerate the deployment of humanoid robots. Despite the ambitious investment akin to its augmented reality projects, Meta's robotics initiative is still in early stages, with significant challenges remaining in software simulation and physical task execution.