Chinese Robots with U.S. Software Meta Is Developing a Humanoid Robot in Collaboration with a Chinese Startup

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Meta, the company behind Facebook, has built a humanoid prototype in collaboration with the Chinese manufacturer Fourier. It uses NVIDIA's Jetson Thor and serves as a test platform for robotics AI. A second version is already in development.

Meta is collaborating with Shanghai Fourier Intelligence in China to develop a humanoid robot codenamed "Max." This is reported by Golem, citing The Information as its source and citing several people familiar with the project. What’s unusual about this is not so much the humanoid robot itself as the circumstances behind it: An American AI company is having its robot hardware developed in China, even as the U.S. increasingly restricts the use of Chinese robotics technology.

According to the report, the prototype—which stands 1.50 meters (4 feet 11 inches) tall and weighs 48 kilograms (106 pounds)—was developed within three months. Meta’s robotics manager, Li-Chen Miller, spent nearly two months working on the project at Fourier’s plant in Shanghai. Max was demonstrated internally at the end of August.

Jetson Thor Provides Computing Power for AI

Inside, it runs on NVIDIA's Jetson Thor with Blackwell architecture. The embedded platform is designed to process sensor data and AI models directly on the robot. It is not known which AI models Meta uses.

The prototype has five-fingered hands capable of grasping small bottles or toys. A display shows facial expressions, and speakers are located in the chest area. Another requirement was the ability to recognize voices from a distance of five meters and hand gestures from a distance of three meters. It remains to be seen whether the robot can reliably meet these requirements.

Fourier Provides Joints and Motion Control

In addition to rehabilitation robots and exoskeletons, Fourier is developing the GR series of humanoid robots. The manufacturer brings its expertise in joint actuators, sensor technology, and motion control to the project. For Max, the partners used several generations of the GR series as a basis and customized elements such as the proportions, head, cameras, and hands.

According to the report, Meta and Fourier have been working on Max 2 since September. The successor is expected to feature a redesigned torso, more dexterous hands, a projector, and additional sensors to assist with climbing stairs.

Meta's AI Agent Muse as a Long-Term Goal

In the long term, robotics could provide Meta's AI agent, Muse, with a physical platform. According to the report, the company is internally considering humanoids as a possible embodiment of the agent. Eventually, they are expected to take on everyday household tasks. However, there is no evidence that Muse is already running on Max.

Meta told *The Medium* that its collaboration with Fourier is for internal research and testing. Fourier has not yet commented on the partnership. The robots developed so far are not intended for sale. There is also no launch date yet for a potential future product.