Meta has acquired the humanoid robotics startup Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI) for an undisclosed amount, according to the company. A spokesperson stated that ARI is at the cutting edge of robotic intelligence, enabling robots to understand, predict, and adapt to human behavior in complex environments. The ARI team, including its co-founders, will join Meta’s AI unit, Superintelligence Labs. ARI, which received seed funding from AI seed firm AIX Ventures, was focused on creating foundation models for humanoid robots for tasks like household chores. Co-founder Xiaolong Wang had a background with Nvidia and UC San Diego, while Lerrel Pinto previously taught at NYU and co-founded Fauna Robotics, acquired by Amazon last month. The acquisition supports Meta’s humanoid robotics ambitions, with Pinto and Wang bringing expertise in robot control and self-learning. Meta has been researching humanoid robotics for years, with leaked plans indicating ambitions for consumer-facing AI models and hardware. The path to artificial general intelligence (AGI) might involve training AI in physical environments, supporting the idea that robots must learn through interaction, not just data. The deals highlight a wider industry push, with projections for the robotics market ranging from $38 billion by 2035 (Goldman Sachs) to $5 trillion by 2050 (Morgan Stanley), indicating the vast potential and current uncertainty in the sector.
Meta Acquires Robotics Startup to Enhance Humanoid AI Goals
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