Meta reportedly building humanoid robot prototype with Chinese startup

The social media giant's robotics push leans heavily on AI software, but a reported China partnership raises the stakes Meta is reportedly building a humanoid robot prototype with a Chinese startup. The company that made its name on photos of your cousin’s vacation now wants a body to go with its brain. The claim surfaced in a post on X. It has not been independently confirmed. Still, it fits a pattern Meta has been building toward for more than a year. What Meta is actually building Meta’s push into humanoid robotics started in early 2025 inside Reality Labs. That is the division best known for VR headsets and smart glasses. An internal memo from February 2025 laid out plans for a dedicated robotics group. Marc Whitten was tapped to lead it. The focus is not what you might expect. Instead of mass-producing its own robots, Meta has prioritized software, sensors and AI. The engine behind that plan is Llama, Meta’s family of AI models. The goal is consumer-facing robots that run on Meta’s intelligence, regardless of whose metal is wrapped around it. There is also an internal project called “Metabot.” It draws on engineering talent Meta has recruited and targets models that improve a ...