Meta’s push to become the ‘Android of Robotics’ — what we know

Meta is reportedly working toward becoming the “Android of robotics”: rather than focusing purely on hardware, the company’s goal appears to be building foundational robotics software that other manufacturers can license. The effort — which includes a “Metabot” prototype and research into a world model to simulate dexterous hands and movement — is led by Marc Whitten (formerly of Cruise) and paired with Meta’s Superintelligence Labs.

Key points

• Primary goal: create licenseable robotics software (an OS/platform) rather than mass-market hardware.
• Technical focus: develop a “world model” to run simulations that animate dexterous hands and more complex behaviors over time.
• Team: robotics effort led by Marc Whitten, with support from Meta’s Superintelligence/AI research groups.
• Use cases: early reports mention household chores (cleaning, folding laundry) as long-term targets — but consumer robots are likely years away.
• Context: Apple, Google and Tesla are also pursuing robotics in different ways; Meta’s angle emphasizes software licensing like Android.

Where this reporting comes from

Reporting and company posts that expand on this topic include:

• Meta / Facebook company blog — new model helps AI think before it acts (official)
• TechCrunch — Meta studying human-robot collaboration on housework
• Meta AI Research (research overview)

Availability: There is no consumer Meta home robot on the market today. Reports suggest the work is early-stage and focused on software foundations rather than a ready-to-buy product.

What to watch for

• Announcements of developer tools or licensing programs for robotics software from Meta.
• Demonstrations of the “world model” applied to dexterous manipulation and multi-step tasks.
• Partnerships with hardware makers that could produce consumer robots using Meta’s software.

What do you think — would you buy a home robot powered by Meta’s software? Share your thoughts below.