Apple and Meta Dive into Humanoid Robotics to Transform Industries

Apple and Meta are taking their rivalry to the next level, moving from mixed reality headsets into an exciting new area—AI-powered humanoid robots. So, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg is saying that both of these big tech companies are working on humanoid robots. These robots are meant to help out with everyday stuff, like folding clothes, boiling eggs, and even dancing a bit!

So, it looks like Meta has created a special AI humanoid division within its Reality Labs hardware team. They're working on a software platform that will help hardware developers dive into the humanoid robotics scene. The company is using its mixed reality sensor expertise, the Llama AI model, and partnering with China’s Unitary Robotics and Figure AI, which is a direct competitor to Tesla’s Optimus robot.

Apple is going a different route by working on its humanoid robot through its machine learning division, really honing in on blending AI with its cutting-edge technologies.

Besides Meta and Apple, Google’s DeepMind is diving into AI robotics too. Plus, a Texas-based company called Apptronik just landed $350 million in funding, with Google jumping into the equation as an investor. These companies are looking to shake things up in industries like healthcare, education, and home assistance.

Therefore, Tesla’s Optimus humanoid is really starting to grab attention. At the We, Robot event in October 2024, Elon Musk mentioned that we can expect humanoid robots to become a regular part of our homes pretty soon. He figured Optimus would cost somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000, saying it’s the “most significant product” ever made.

AI humanoids are evolving quickly, and it looks like the robotics industry is about to enter a whole new era.

Information referenced in this article is from India Today