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A new wave of technological innovation is emerging: humanoid robots. Some of the biggest names in technology are making big investments, and Meta is jumping into the fray. But can a company best known for social media and VR really compete with established robotics companies? Let’s take a closer look at what is happening and whether Meta is up to the challenge.
Meta is putting its Reality Labs division in charge of its humanoid robot project. The team is led by Marc Whitten, a veteran of Cruise, Amazon, Sonos, and Microsoft, where he helped launch Xbox. Unlike Tesla’s Optimus and Figure AI’s industrial robots, Meta wants to focus on home assistance.
According to Bloomberg, Meta is working with Unitree Robotics and Figure AI to see if the project is even viable. In an internal memo, Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth, said that AI advancements in AR and hand-tracking tech could be key building blocks.
AI alone is not enough to create a humanoid robot. It also requires innovative technology, fluid movements, and real-world adaptability. Even the top robot businesses are still trying to perfect these features.
Cognitive anthropomorphism is a major issue: people expect robots to behave and think like humans, resulting in unrealistic expectations. While AI has improved in the areas of language and automation, getting a robot to navigate physical spaces and handle everyday tasks is a whole other challenge.
Meta has already had trouble keeping Reality Labs afloat, laying off more than 20,000 employees between 2022 and 2023. Now, it is jumping into a complex and expensive industry. Is Meta really up to this challenge, or is it getting too carried away?
Meta enters an arena dominated by experienced players. Tesla is developing Optimus, a humanoid robot for industrial and domestic use, but the project’s deadline is slipping. Elon Musk has made lofty promises, but there are doubts that Tesla will deliver soon.
Meanwhile, Boston Dynamics continues to refine Atlas, a robot with unparalleled agility. The company has years of experience developing robots capable of moving in complex environments. However, Atlas is still far from being a general-purpose assistant.
Apple is also said to be researching humanoid robotics. True to its reputation, Apple would prioritize a sophisticated, high-end assistant for the most demanding users. If Apple enters this industry, it can redefine expectations by focusing on user experience and seamless integration of AI.
Then there’s Google, which has made huge investments in AI and robotics. With DeepMind, it has pushed the bounds of ML. In fact, its robotics group is developing advanced automation solutions.
Meta isn’t simply attempting to build robots; it wants to be the leading provider of AI-powered robotics. The company plans to provide AI models, sensors, and software to other robotics companies, similar to how Google dominates search and internet advertising.
However, this is assuming that the industry will adopt Meta’s environment. Given Meta’s history of data privacy issues, would hardware manufacturers trust it to power their next-generation robots?
Despite the hype, truly functional humanoid robots remain a work in progress. AI has advanced in many areas, but combining it into a robot that can do real work remains a significant problem.
At CES 2024, many companies presented robots with AI, but most of them were intended for specific tasks rather than real household help. The idea of a humanoid robot capable of performing everyday tasks is still far away.
Meta’s venture into humanoid robotics is brave, but it comes with significant risks. The company has no hardware knowledge, and the robotics industry has been hesitant to bring practical products to market. Although robots with AI may be part of our future, Meta’s venture is more of an expensive experiment than a guarantee of success.
Will Meta transform the robotics industry, or is it just another expensive distraction? It is too early to tell, but one thing is certain: success will require more than AI alone.