Meta is accelerating its robotics ambitions with the appointment of Li-Chen Miller, formerly head of its smart glasses portfolio, as the first product manager for Reality Labs’ robotics division. The move signals a strategic shift in the company’s hardware priorities following the launch of its latest augmented reality devices.
The company is reportedly developing a humanoid assistant, known internally as Metabot, within the same unit that manages its AR and VR platforms. The robotics team is led by former Cruise executive Marc Whitten and supported by veteran engineer Ning Li and MIT roboticist Sangbae Kim, highlighting Meta’s commitment to advanced robotics expertise.
Miller’s transfer underscores Meta’s goal to integrate its AI capabilities with physical robotics. The team collaborates closely with the company’s Superintelligence Lab, which is developing a ‘world model’ intended to enable real-time reasoning and dextrous motion in humanoid machines.
Analysts view the move as part of Meta’s broader strategy to future-proof its ecosystem and diversify Reality Labs, which continues to operate at a loss. The growing focus on humanoid robots could bring home-use AI assistants closer to reality, blending social AI with the company’s long-term vision for the metaverse.
By leveraging both AI and robotics, Meta aims to create devices that extend beyond AR and VR, positioning itself in a space increasingly defined by human-like, interactive machines.