According to a report by Bloomberg, Meta is establishing a new team within its Reality Labs hardware division, focused on developing robots capable of performing physical tasks. This team will be responsible for creating humanoid robotics hardware, which may include devices that can handle household chores.

The new robotics group at Meta, to be led by Marc Whitten, the former CEO of driverless car startup Cruise, will also be tasked with developing robotic software and AI, as reported by Bloomberg. Whitten’s professional background includes stints at prominent companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Sonos, as indicated on his LinkedIn profile.

It is essential to note that Meta’s initial plan is not to produce a robot bearing the Meta brand. Instead, executives like CTO Andrew Bosworth envision the company laying the groundwork for a hardware foundation that can be utilized across the broader robotics industry, similar to the impact Google’s Android operating system had on the smartphone market, as per Bloomberg’s report.

Bloomberg further reports that Meta has engaged in discussions with several robotics companies, including Unitree Robotics and Figure AI, to explore potential partnerships on prototype development.