Apple and Meta’s Competition Shifts from MR Headsets to Humanoid Robots

In the mixed reality (MR) headset space, Apple and Meta have been competing fiercely for years. However, as technology evolves, their rivalry is gradually shifting from virtual reality (VR) to the field of humanoid robots. According to Bloomberg, Meta plans to establish a new team within its Reality Labs hardware division, dedicated to developing humanoid robot technology, and aims to recruit about 100 engineers by 2025. Unlike directly launching branded robotic products, Meta’s short-term goal is to develop an underlying software platform, similar to Android, for use by other hardware manufacturers, thus advancing the entire industry.

 

Sources revealed that Meta is focusing on developing its own humanoid robot hardware, initially targeting the home market. The ultimate goal is to provide essential AI, sensors, and software support for these robots. Currently, Meta is in talks with companies like Unitree and Figure AI for potential collaborations. While Meta has no plans to launch a self-branded robot product like Tesla, this possibility may arise in the future.

 

On February 14, Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth confirmed the creation of the new team in an email to employees. He wrote, “Our core technology investments in Reality Labs and AI will drive the progress of robotic technology... We believe that increasing investment in humanoid robots will significantly enhance Meta’s AI, MR, and AR projects.”

 

Meta believes that despite current breakthroughs in humanoid robot hardware, Meta’s AI technology and data accumulated through projects like VR can accelerate development in this field. While humanoid robots still struggle to perform basic household tasks, such as folding clothes or picking up a glass of water—tasks that are significant to consumers—Meta plans to develop a range of safety tools to address potential risks.

 

Meta’s ultimate goal is to become the foundational technology provider for the humanoid robot market, akin to Google’s Android system or Qualcomm’s mobile chips. The new team will be led by Marc Whitten, former CEO of General Motors’ autonomous driving division, Cruise, and will report directly to Bosworth.

 

Notably, Meta has a significant advantage over Apple in the deep integration of mixed reality technology. The company has accumulated vast experience in sensor technology and computational power, and the recent release of the Llama AI model, which has been widely praised in the industry, positions Meta as a strong contender in the humanoid robot space. With these technological foundations, Meta is expected to make swift progress in the robotics field, particularly in providing open platforms and building an ecosystem for hardware manufacturers.

 

Meanwhile, Apple is quietly making moves in the humanoid robot space. Reports indicate that Apple is exploring the development of a humanoid robot that can showcase its advanced AI technology and hardware integration capabilities. Unlike Meta’s open platform strategy, Apple’s approach is more closed and integrated. Apple tends to control every aspect of its hardware and software, ensuring a high level of internal coherence. Its ongoing investments in machine learning also lay a strong foundation for the development of its robotics technology.

 

In fact, Apple has already set up a dedicated robotics R&D department within its large machine learning team. Additionally, its home hardware engineering team has shown keen interest in this field and plans to release an innovative device in the short term—a desktop robot that attaches a mechanical arm to a display.

 

However, whether Apple can catch up with its competitors in AI remains an open question. Despite Apple’s unrivaled ability to integrate hardware, the company faces significant challenges in AI, particularly in natural language processing and deep learning. Industry reports suggest that Apple’s latest Siri development is progressing slowly and may be delayed, casting doubt on the company’s AI capabilities in robotics. If Apple cannot compete with rivals in AI features for smartphones and tablets, developing complex humanoid robots may become even harder.

 

Some analysts argue that Apple’s past investments in autonomous driving technology may be beneficial to its robotics efforts. Although that project was canceled last year, the technology and research accumulated in the autonomous driving sector could prove valuable as Apple enters the robotics space.

 

Meta’s robotics project will be led by Marc Whitten, the former CEO of GM’s Cruise division, while Apple’s robot development is being overseen by Kevin Lynch, who was responsible for the first Apple Watch and the autonomous driving project. With two industry leaders at the helm, the competition between the two companies in this emerging field is expected to intensify, filled with uncertainty.