Meta is expanding its AI research beyond chatbots to develop humanoid robotics, focusing on AI-driven software and sensors that could power future consumer robots.

Facebook parent Meta is joining the race to field humanoid robotics. Meta Platforms is establishing a new division within its Reality Labs unit to develop AI-powered humanoid robots that can assist with physical tasks, according to an internal company memo viewed by Reuters on Friday.

Meta is looking to be the go-to marketplace for robo-tech, with the company planning to develop its own humanoid robot hardware and later become a lead developer of the robots' AI-based backbone. The effort will be spearheaded by a new hardware division in Meta's Reality Labs (Quest VR and Ray-Ban smart glasses),