Meta partnered with Shanghai-based robotics startup Fourier to develop a prototype humanoid robot named Max, constructed in roughly three months through intensive cooperation at Fourier’s factory. The 106-pound (48-kilogram), 1.5-meter-tall robot runs on an Nvidia Jetson Thor chip, featuring a five-fingered hand, chest speakers, and expressive facial display features. Meta leadership, including CTO Andrew Bosworth, views humanoid robotics as the physical embodiment of the company’s “Muse” AI agent, aiming to help systems understand human behavior and environment interaction. Building on the initial prototype presented internally in August, the teams began working on “Max 2” in September to upgrade the torso, hands, and stair-climbing sensor suite. The cross-border partnership faces potential friction amid heightened scrutiny and impending import restrictions from U.S. regulators regarding Chinese robotics hardware and supply chains.

Full report : Meta fast-tracks internal robotics research by collaborating with Shanghai-based Fourier to build physical embodiments of its Muse AI agent.