Meta Builds Humanoid Robot Prototype With Chinese Startup Fourier

Meta has partnered with Chinese robotics company Fourier to develop a humanoid robot prototype, Max, and has started work on a second-generation model. According to Sina Finance, citing The Information, the 106-pound (48-kilogram) prototype took three months to build, and Meta has not set a launch date. The project is intended to help Meta’s robotics division develop a product that could eventually be sold to consumers. Max is about 1.5 meters tall and uses an Nvidia Jetson Thor chip and a separate motion-control software platform. It has two chest speakers, facial features that can simulate expressions, and a five-fingered robotic hand. Meta’s design targets include recognizing speech from five meters away and gestures from three meters away. Meta and Fourier began developing the Max 2 in September, with plans to redesign its torso, improve its hands, add a projection module and sensors for climbing stairs. Meta has also acquired a robotics AI startup and is developing software to help robots understand human behavior and adapt to different environments. Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth has described humanoid robots internally as physical embodiments of Meta’s Muse AI agent. Meta said its partnership with Fourier is limited to internal research and testing, with no plans to sell the devices. The project comes as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump scrutinizes China’s robotics industry. In July, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) barred imports of new Chinese humanoid robots, citing supply-chain and cybersecurity risks, while existing rules allow companies to import up to 4,000 devices for testing or development, provided they are not sold. In August, the FCC proposed reducing the exemption to 40 devices unless companies obtain written approval to import more. Meta’s robotics effort has also seen management changes: Marc Whitten left in late August after 18 months, and Meta appointed Ning Li to lead its robotics studio on an interim basis. Meta is hiring robotics staff in Shanghai and Shenzhen for supplier development, product design, technical project management and work aimed at moving robots from prototypes toward mass production.