In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and robotics, Meta Platforms Inc. is making a bold pivot toward humanoid robots, positioning them as its next major technological frontier. During a recent interview at Meta’s headquarters, Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth revealed that the company views humanoid robots as an “AR-size bet,” comparable in scale and ambition to its investments in augmented reality. This initiative, internally dubbed “Metabot,” underscores Meta’s strategy to extend its AI prowess beyond social media and virtual worlds into physical embodiments that could revolutionize daily life.

Bosworth emphasized that Meta isn’t aiming to manufacture hardware at scale but rather to develop and license advanced software for humanoid robots. By leveraging its open-source Llama AI models, the company envisions creating a platform where third-party robot makers can integrate Meta’s technology, much like how Android powers diverse smartphones. This approach could democratize robotics, allowing Meta to focus on software innovation while partners handle the mechanical complexities.

Scaling Ambitions Amid Industry Frenzy

Recent reports highlight a surge in investments across the sector, with companies like Amazon and Tesla pouring resources into humanoid development. According to a February 2025 article in Reuters, Meta established a dedicated division within its Reality Labs unit to build AI-powered robots capable of assisting with physical tasks, such as household chores. The memo, viewed by Reuters, indicates early discussions with robotics firms like Figure and Unitree, signaling potential collaborations to accelerate deployment.

This move comes amid a broader industry boom, where humanoid robots are transitioning from prototypes to pilot programs in homes and workplaces. A September 2025 piece in The Washington Post notes that investments from tech giants have spawned a new generation of these machines, driven by AI advancements like those in ChatGPT. Meta’s entry intensifies competition, particularly with rivals like Apple, which Bloomberg reported in February 2025 is also ramping up humanoid efforts, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle in this emerging field.

Technical Challenges and Innovations

Despite the enthusiasm, scaling humanoid robots presents formidable hurdles. As detailed in a September 2025 analysis by IEEE Spectrum, issues like battery life, safety protocols, and real-world adaptability remain barriers to widespread adoption. Meta is addressing these through innovative research, including touch-sensing technologies unveiled in late 2024. Posts on X from robotics enthusiasts, such as those highlighting Meta’s artificial fingertip sensors for tactile interaction, suggest the company is prioritizing multimodal AI to make robots more intuitive and human-like.

Bosworth’s vision extends to integrating humanoid robots with Meta’s existing ecosystem, potentially linking them to AR glasses or social platforms for seamless user experiences. A recent X post from Techmeme summarized Bosworth’s comments in The Verge, where he described the software licensing model as key to avoiding hardware pitfalls that have plagued other ventures. This strategy aligns with Meta’s history of open-sourcing AI tools, fostering an ecosystem that could lower costs and spur innovation.

Societal Implications and Market Projections

Industry insiders are buzzing about the transformative potential. A June 2025 story from the World Economic Forum warns that while humanoid robots promise efficiency in sectors like healthcare and manufacturing, society must establish guardrails to mitigate disruptions, such as job displacement. Meta’s focus on household assistance could address labor shortages, with projections from a Bain & Company report in September 2025 indicating pilot stages evolving into waves of adoption by 2030, contingent on battery and ecosystem advancements.

Competition from China adds urgency; a CNBC article from early September 2025 reported that Unitree Robotics is eyeing a $7 billion IPO valuation, fueled by its humanoid models. Meta’s collaborations, as mentioned in X posts from accounts like The Humanoid Hub, include integrating Llama models with partners’ hardware, potentially positioning the company as a software leader in a market forecasted to reach millions of units by 2035, per Anadolu Ajansı.

Future Bets and Strategic Risks

Meta’s humanoid push reflects a broader tech trend where AI meets physical robotics. A PR Newswire release via The Manila Times in September 2025, based on DIGITIMES research, predicts 2025 as the “first year of humanoid robots,” with hardware advancements determining rollout speed. Bosworth acknowledged in The Verge interview that hardware isn’t the bottleneck—software intelligence is, echoing Nvidia’s “physical AI” narrative.

Yet, risks abound. Historical parallels to Meta’s metaverse investments, which faced skepticism, loom large. An X post from VraserX captured the sentiment, noting Zuckerberg’s billion-dollar bets shifting from VR to robots. For industry watchers, Meta’s success hinges on execution: licensing software could yield Android-like dominance, but failure might echo past overreaches. As one Georgia Tech collaboration shared on X demonstrates, using Meta’s Project Aria glasses to train robots via human data, the company is betting on data-driven learning to bridge the gap.

In this high-stakes arena, Meta’s humanoid ambitions could redefine human-robot interaction, blending AI with physical presence in ways that extend far beyond today’s prototypes. With investments booming and partnerships forming, the coming years will test whether Metabot becomes a household name or another ambitious footnote in tech history.