After revolutionizing social media with Facebook in the early 2000s, Meta has struggled to replicate that success in new industries. Despite setbacks in the smartphone and metaverse markets, the company is making yet another ambitious move—this time into humanoid robots.
According to a Bloomberg report, Meta has formed a new team focused on developing robots capable of performing household tasks. But the ultimate vision extends beyond just creating robots; Meta aims to establish a robotics platform that other companies can use, positioning itself as a key player in the industry.
Chasing the Next Big Thing
While Meta dominates the social media space, it lost the battle for mobile devices to Apple and Google, which control the smartphone market. Now, the company is determined not to miss the next technological wave. Over the past five years, it has aggressively invested in artificial intelligence and the metaverse to stay ahead. Robotics could be the next step in this evolution.
However, competition is fierce. Tesla has already showcased its humanoid Optimus robot, and Nvidia recently introduced AI technology tailored for robotics at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.
Meta has yet to comment on its new robotics venture.
The Metaverse: A Vision Still Waiting to Materialize
Meta’s most high-profile pivot came in 2021 when it rebranded from Facebook to Meta, signaling a commitment to the metaverse—a virtual reality-driven digital space. CEO Mark Zuckerberg described it as the “next chapter for the internet.”
Despite this vision, the metaverse remains far from mainstream. Market research from IDC projects that only 7.7 million mixed reality headsets will ship globally in 2025, a fraction compared to the 331.7 million smartphones shipped in just the fourth quarter of 2024. While Meta leads the VR headset market with a 71% share, adoption remains slow.
Past Failures and a Glimmer of Hope
Meta’s track record with hardware has been mixed. In 2013, it partnered with HTC to release a Facebook-branded phone, which flopped and saw its price slashed to just $0.99 shortly after launch. The Meta Portal, a video-calling device introduced in 2018, also failed to gain traction and was eventually discontinued.
However, the company has found some success with its Ray-Ban smart glasses, launched in 2023. Parent company EssilorLuxottica reported selling two million pairs by early 2024—a small figure compared to smartphones but promising for a still-emerging category.
Yet, competition is already heating up, with Google and Samsung developing an Android-powered system for mixed reality headsets and smart glasses.
A New Strategy: Becoming the ‘Android of Robotics’?
Unlike previous attempts, Meta’s approach to robotics may not rely solely on building its own branded products. Instead, it seeks to develop a robotics platform, similar to how Android powers smartphones. This shift in strategy could offer Meta a more sustainable path to relevance outside of social media.
While success is far from guaranteed, Meta is once again betting on the future—hoping that this time, it won’t miss out.
