TradingKey - Building humanoid robots has become Meta's next "AR-level bet."
Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth recently provided his first in-depth disclosure that the company has elevated its internally codenamed "Metabot" humanoid robot development to a strategic priority on par with augmented reality (AR), signaling future investments at the multi-billion dollar level.
As early as February 2025, Reuters reported that Meta had established a dedicated division within its Reality Labs department focused on developing AI-powered humanoid robots capable of assisting with physical tasks such as household chores.
However, unlike the industry's common approach, Bosworth explicitly stated that Meta's vision is not to become a primary hardware manufacturer, but rather to develop a software platform that can be licensed to other hardware manufacturers. This operational model resembles how Google provides the Android system to smartphone manufacturers — any company manufacturing robots meeting specific specifications could utilize the software blueprint developed by Meta.
Bosworth emphasized that Meta currently views software, not hardware, as the true bottleneck in humanoid robot development.
He explained using the example of picking up a glass of water. Existing robots can walk, run, and even perform backflips, yet when executing delicate "dexterous manipulation" tasks like picking up a glass of water — requiring precise force control — they often crush the glass or spill the liquid due to their inability to accurately sense and control force. Solving this software challenge is Meta's current top priority.
To address this, Meta's newly formed Superintelligence AI Lab is collaborating with the robotics team to build a simulation system called the "world model," which uses AI algorithms to replicate spatial awareness and fine motor skills, compensating for existing technological shortcomings.
However, despite Meta's ambitious plans, translating blueprints into products will still take time. Reports indicate that Meta's robot software platform "may still require several years" before supporting commercial applications by third-party manufacturers.
Meta is not the only company advancing in robotic technology. Apple is reportedly developing home robots, Tesla has demonstrated multiple versions of its Optimus robot, and Amazon is also making significant investments...
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang predicted at the 2025 CES that the humanoid robot market could reach $38 billion in the coming decades, stating bluntly that “the ChatGPT moment for general robotics is just around the corner.”
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