Meta is making a fresh push towards home-based hardware, according to a report from The Information. Rather than the Portal or one of its many other failed products, the latest from the social media company could be distressingly humanoid.
Max is supposedly a prototype humanoid robot from Mark Zuckerberg’s company. Its existence was revealed by The Information‘s sources, which claim the home assistant prototype was developed for Meta by a Chinese manufacturer. The development took about three months, but there’s already supposed to be a second-gen version in the works at the same Chinese company.
Meta humanoid
The initial version stands 1.5 metres tall and weighs around 48 kilograms. Its faceplate is, according to the report, a display capable of showing different emotional states. Odds are the social media company is, as with its Muse Charm, looking to make its robot as non-threatening as possible. Speakers, microphones, and hands capable of basic manipulation are also supposed to be part of the package. However, Meta’s Max won’t see production in its initial form.
A second prototype, Max 2, is supposed to be in development now. Changes to the torso, hands, and its sensor layout are being implemented. The aim is to give it better walking capability, particularly on stairs. If it’s operating inside homes, the physical upgrade makes sense. Meta is also planning to stick a projector into the thing… so you can check your Facebook or Instagram on the nearest wall, we guess?
Meta’s move towards surveillance equipment that’ll walk around your home isn’t unexpected. Zuckerberg’s company acquired Assured Robot Intelligence, a robotics company (obviously), earlier this year. There’s no point in buying something unless you’re planning to use it. Max, or more likely Max’s younger siblings, will turn up once it has learned how to walk properly. We… can probably wait for that. Meta’s humanoid robot will probably also hoover up as much personal information about its owners as is legally possible.
