'Meta builds humanoid robot with China’s Fourier as home robot push expands: report'

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) has developed a humanoid robot prototype with Chinese robotics startup Fourier and is already working on a second version, The Information reported on Saturday, as the Facebook parent steps up efforts to bring AI into everyday household tasks.

The prototype, internally named Max, weighs about 106 pounds and was built by the two companies in roughly three months, according to people familiar with the project cited by The Information.

Standing around 1.5 metres tall, the robot uses Nvidia's Jetson Thor chip and features a display capable of mimicking facial expressions, built-in speakers and five-fingered hands designed to handle small objects, according to the report.

Meta's robotics team travelled to China to work with Fourier, with the company's vice president of product for robotics, Li-Chen Miller, spending almost two months at the startup's Shanghai factory, the report said. Max was demonstrated to some Meta employees at an internal robotics summit in late August.

The companies began developing a second prototype, Max 2, in September. The updated version is expected to feature a redesigned torso, improved hands for handling objects, a projector and additional sensors to help it navigate stairs, according to the report.

Meta sees humanoid robots as a potential physical extension of its Muse AI agent, with the long-term ambition of developing machines capable of assisting with household tasks. The company has also strengthened its robotics capabilities through its May acquisition of Assured Robot Intelligence, a startup developing AI models that help robots understand and adapt to human behaviour.

However, Meta told The Information that its work with Fourier was focused on internal research and experimentation and that it had no plans to sell the units.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/meta-builds-humanoid-robot-china-180010281.html