Meta has built a prototype humanoid robot, internally codenamed Max, designed to help with household chores, according to The Information. The report says Chinese robotics company Fourier helped build the prototype in about three months.
What the Max prototype can reportedly do
Max weighs about 106 lbs and stands roughly 1.5 meters, around five feet, tall, Engadget reported, citing The Information. The robot has a display that shows facial expressions, a built-in speaker, and hands designed to pick up small objects.
Internally, Max runs on Nvidia’s Jetson Thor chips, the same processor family Nvidia has positioned for robotics and autonomous-machine workloads. The report did not specify a full list of household tasks Max has successfully completed.
A second prototype is already in the works
A follow-up prototype, Max 2, has been in development since September, according to the same report. Planned changes include an updated torso and hand design, an onboard projector, and extra sensors meant to improve the robot’s handling of stairs.
No launch date has been set for a mass-market version of either prototype. The project remains in Meta’s internal testing and development phase.
How Meta’s robotics push got here
Meta’s interest in household robots first surfaced when Bloomberg reported that the company had formed a dedicated team inside its Reality Labs division to build chore-capable robot hardware, according to Engadget’s earlier coverage of that report. At the time, Meta was said to be at least a couple of years from bringing any humanoid robot to market.
Meta separately acquired a startup developing AI software for robots earlier this year, a move that fits the same strategic direction: building the underlying AI, sensors, and software for robots rather than necessarily manufacturing them entirely in-house.
Earlier Bloomberg reporting, relayed by Engadget, said Meta had held talks with established robotics companies, including Unitree Robotics and Figure AI, but at that stage did not plan to build and sell a Meta-branded robot itself. The Max prototype, built with Fourier, suggests that approach may have shifted toward testing Meta’s own branded hardware rather than only supplying software to outside robot makers.
The choice of Nvidia’s Jetson Thor chip for Max also ties the project to the broader AI hardware supply chain. Nvidia has pitched the Jetson Thor line specifically for humanoid and industrial robots, and a large customer like Meta adopting it for an internal prototype adds to demand for AI compute hardware already stretched by data center buildouts across the industry.
Why a Meta robot matters beyond Meta
Meta joining the humanoid robotics race puts it alongside other large technology companies and well-funded startups already building household and warehouse robots. A company with Meta’s scale entering the category, even at a prototype stage, signals that general-purpose home robots are being treated as a near-term product category rather than a distant research goal.
Using a third-party manufacturing partner like Fourier for early hardware iteration, rather than building everything from scratch, is a common strategy among AI companies entering robotics quickly. It lets Meta test its software and AI models on working hardware without first building an in-house manufacturing line.
What to watch next
The gap between a working prototype and a product on store shelves is typically measured in years for humanoid robots, given the cost of components, safety testing, and manufacturing at scale. Max 2’s planned stair-handling sensors and redesigned hands suggest Meta is still working through basic mobility and dexterity problems rather than finalising a shippable design.
Whether Meta eventually sells a Max-branded robot, licenses the underlying software to manufacturing partners such as Fourier, or shelves the project entirely will depend on internal testing results that have not been made public. The Information’s report did not include a timeline for Meta’s own announcement, if one is planned.
Frequently asked questions
Is Meta selling a household robot now?
No. Max and Max 2 are internal prototypes. No mass-market launch date has been announced.
Who makes the Max prototype’s hardware?
Chinese robotics company Fourier reportedly helped build it, according to The Information’s report relayed by Engadget.
Has Meta confirmed this officially?
Meta has not issued its own public statement on the Max prototype at the time of writing. The report traces to The Information, corroborated by Engadget’s earlier reporting on Meta’s robotics team, which itself cited Bloomberg.
How does this compare to other companies building humanoid robots?
Meta joins a field that already includes other large technology companies and well-funded robotics startups working on humanoid designs for homes and warehouses. The report does not compare Max’s specifications directly against any competing robot.
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