Tesla’s Dominance in Humanoid Robots Expands as Meta Joins the Race

Meta joins big tech giants in the race to develop humanoid robots, intensifying competition

Tesla has long been a leader in the development of humanoid robots, but recent news reveals that other tech giants are now entering the market, further intensifying competition. Bloomberg reported on February 14 that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is preparing to join the race with its own humanoid robot development. The company has established a new department focused on the creation of AI-powered humanoid robots, using its Llama AI model as a foundation for the project.

Meta's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, recently revealed in an internal memo that the new team will prioritize maximizing the functionality of the Llama platform while concentrating on developing consumer-focused humanoid robots. The Llama AI model, which Meta uses to enhance various platforms, will play a central role in building human-like robots for use in homes and other environments. Meta’s venture into humanoid robotics will be housed under its Reality Labs division, which has previously focused on virtual reality headsets and is researching advancements for the metaverse.

The company’s initial plans revolve around creating humanoid robots designed to handle household tasks. Meta’s long-term goal is to integrate AI, sensors, and software into robots that can efficiently perform these functions. In its pursuit, Meta is reportedly in discussions with companies such as Unitary Robotics from China and Figure AI, a competitor to Tesla’s Optimus robot, to collaborate on these developments.

Meta’s announcement follows news that Google has made substantial investments in robotics, notably into companies like Apptronik, a developer of humanoid robots that competes with Tesla’s Optimus. Apptronik recently secured $350 million in funding, with Google included as one of the investors. Like Tesla, Apptronik is developing an industrial humanoid robot named Apollo, which aims to rival Optimus in the market.

Currently, Tesla remains the frontrunner in the humanoid robot race, with the company planning to deploy its Optimus robot in factories later this year. However, other major tech firms are not far behind. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has recently shown interest in humanoid robots, including them in its trademark filings as part of its plans for robots that aim to assist and entertain people. The company has also started assembling a new robotics team, having hired a former Meta executive to lead the efforts.

Apple is another significant player entering the humanoid robot space. According to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is researching both humanoid and non-humanoid robots for its future smart home ecosystem. Although still in the proof-of-concept stage, Apple is actively working on verifying whether its robots can perform as expected and meet their projected performance standards.

Nvidia is also accelerating its development of humanoid robots, unveiling a new robotics development platform at CES, the world’s largest tech exhibition. This move is expected to speed up advancements in the sector, with Nvidia focusing on improving hardware and software that supports robotics.

Goldman Sachs forecasts that the global humanoid robot market could reach $38 billion by 2035. With the entrance of these major tech companies, the competition is set to drive the market forward, resulting in more innovation and expansion in the humanoid robotics sector. As technology advances and major players continue to invest in AI and robotics, the future of humanoid robots looks increasingly promising, with applications in various industries ranging from manufacturing to everyday household tasks.