Meta reportedly built humanoid prototype Max with Chinese robotics company Fourier

Meta built a humanoid prototype called Max with Chinese robotics company Fourier in about three months and is working on a second prototype, Engadget’s Jackson Chen wrote, citing The Information. Reuters relayed The Information’s report on Oct. 31 and said it could not immediately verify it.

The aim is a robot that can help around people’s homes, Chen wrote, citing The Information. According to that account, Max is roughly 106 pounds and 1.5 meters tall. It reportedly has a display for facial expressions, a speaker, NVIDIA Jetson Thor chips and hands designed to pick up small objects. The account describes the hands’ intended use, not Max performing household chores.

The Information also reported that work on the second prototype, Max 2, has been underway since September, . Reported changes include its torso and hands, plus a projector and additional sensors intended to help it handle stairs. Engadget’s account says no launch date has been set for a mass-market version of Max.