Meta’s next AI goal: building robots

Meta has already become a leading player in artificial intelligence with its open-source Llama models and its Ray-Ban co-branded smart glasses, but now it has its sights set on something even more futuristic: robots.

The company behind Facebook is now plotting a major investment in building humanoid robots, according to an internal memo seen by various media outlets and first reported on Friday. The company is establishing a new robotics division to help people with physical tasks. The robots will be powered by Meta’s own Llama models and will be run by Marc Whitten, the former CEO of the autonomous vehicle company Cruise.

Meta’s robots will initially focus on aiding people with household chores, according to Bloomberg. But it has a long-term goal not only to sell to consumers but also to make the “underlying AI, sensors and software for robots that will be manufactured and sold by a range of companies.”