Meta Platforms Joins Humanoid Robot Race, Acquires Startup

[Financial News] Meta Platforms has acquired a startup focused on humanoid robot development.
According to IT-focused media outlets and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 2nd local time, Meta Platforms acquired Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI), a company based in San Diego.
Meta Platforms described ARI as a leading company in "robot intelligence," a field designed to help systems understand, predict and adapt to human behavior in complex and dynamic environments. However, Meta Platforms did not disclose the specific terms of the deal, including the purchase price.
Wang Xiaolong, ARI's co-founder, and other employees will join Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), which Meta Platforms created to develop artificial intelligence that surpasses human capabilities.
In a post on X, Wang said, "Meta's ecosystem has all the key elements needed to realize this vision of developing humanoid robots." He added, "We will join MSL and help bring personal superintelligence into the real world."
Until now, Meta Platforms had been developing humanoid robot hardware and the foundational AI technologies needed to power it on its own. With this acquisition, it can now combine model design, robot control and training technologies.
As a result, Meta Platforms is expected to compete with Tesla, Inc., Boston Dynamics and Figure AI, Inc., all of which have been focusing on humanoid robot development.
[email protected] Juwon Gyu Reporter