Mark Zuckerberg's Meta to invest in AI-powered humanoid robots to compete with Tesla, others

Core Insights - Meta Platforms is establishing a new division within its Reality Labs unit to develop AI-powered humanoid robots for physical tasks, entering a competitive field alongside companies like Nvidia-backed Figure AI and Tesla [1][2] - The new robotics product group will focus on research and development of consumer humanoid robots, aiming to maximize the capabilities of Meta's Llama AI platform [2][6] - The group will be led by Marc Whitten, former CEO of Cruise, indicating a strategic move to leverage expertise in robotics [3] Industry Context - Major tech companies and startups are investing billions into AI-powered robots for various applications, including manufacturing and logistics, although advancements have been slow due to challenges in applying language-related AI breakthroughs to physical tasks [4] - Apptronik recently secured $350 million in funding to scale production of AI-powered humanoid robots for warehouse and manufacturing tasks, highlighting the growing interest and investment in this sector [5] - Meta is currently in discussions with robotics companies like Unitree Robotics and Figure AI, but does not plan to launch its own branded humanoid robot immediately [7]