Meta creating new division to develop AI-driven robots
Humanoid machines would assist with tasks
By: Katie Paul
and Harshita Mary Varghese
Reuters
..... Meta Platforms is establishing a new division within its Reality Labs unit to develop AI-powered humanoid robots that can assist with physical tasks, according to an internal company memo viewed by Reuters.
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Facebook parent Meta is entering the competitive field of humanoid robotics, joining rivals such as Nvidia-backed Figure AI and Tesla, as the emergence of advanced AI models drives innovation robotics and automation.
..... In the memo, Meta Che if Technology Officer Andre Bosworth said the robotics product group would focus on research and development involving "consumer humanoid robots with a goal of maximizing Llama;s platform capabilities.
..... Llama is the name of Meta's main series of AI foundations models, which power a growing suite of generative AI products on the company's social media platform.
..... "We believe expanding our portfolio to invest in this field will only accrue value to Meta AI and our mixed and augmented reality programs," Bosworth wrote.
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The group will be led by Marc Whitten, the former CEO of self-driving car company Cruise, whom Meta has hired as vice president of robotics, Bosworth said in the memo. the news was first reported by Bloomberg News.
..... Bosworth said the company also hired John Koryl as vice president of retail. Koryl, who was formerly CEO of secondhand e-commerce company the RealReal, was hired to expand efforts to sell directly to consumers Meta's Quest mixed reality headsets and AI wearable such as Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which meta makes with eyewear maker EssilorLuxoottica.
..... Meta aims to build "more direct experts in the space" by developing retail locations like the Meta Lab temporary store it opened in Los Angeles in November, [2204] although retail partners will continue to drive the bulk of hardware sales volume, Bosworth said.
..... Meta did not immediate respond to a Reuters request for comment.
..... The announcement represents a major bet on Meta's Reality Labs unit, which is aimed at developing technologies to drive future growth but has hemorrhaged money since its establishment. The unit lost about $5 billion in the fourth quarter of last year. [2024]
..... Major tech companies and startups are pouring billions into developing AI-powered devices for manufacturing, logistics and household tasks. Progress on robots has been slow, however as researches have found that the language-related AL breakthroughs driving chatbot development have not necessarily help;ed with understanding of the physical world.