M eta is diving headfirst into humanoid robots, chasing yet another ambitious vision beyond social media. According to a Bloomberg report on Friday, the company has assembled a team to develop bots capable of performing household tasks and potentially creating a platform for third-party robotics innovation.
Mark Zuckerberg’s push into robotics underscores his ongoing quest to redefine Meta beyond its Facebook legacy. However, history suggests caution. From the metaverse to failed hardware ventures, Meta has struggled to translate its ambitions into market dominance outside of social media.
Meta’s Track Record: Big Dreams, Bigger Missteps
Facebook revolutionized the internet in the 2000s, but its attempts to expand beyond social media have been less successful. The company’s 2021 rebrand to Meta was meant to signal a bold future, yet many of its ventures have floundered.
- Smartphones? Apple and Google maintain a firm grip on that market, leaving Meta dependent on their platforms.
- The Metaverse? Despite a $36 billion investment, the concept remains niche. IDC projects just 7.7 million mixed reality headsets will ship in 2025—dwarfed by the 331.7 million smartphones sold in Q4 2024 alone. While Meta holds 71% of the mixed reality market, it remains a fraction of the broader tech landscape.
- Hardware? The 2013 HTC Facebook phone failed so badly that AT&T slashed its price to 99 cents. The 2018 Portal smart speaker? Discontinued. Even Meta’s flagship metaverse initiative has struggled to gain traction beyond gaming circles.
Is Robotics Different?
Meta’s robotics push comes as competitors like Tesla and Nvidia are already advancing in the space. Tesla’s Optimus bot and Nvidia’s AI-driven robotics initiatives signal that the industry is heating up, but Meta’s track record raises questions about whether it can compete.
Bloomberg reports that Meta isn’t just aiming to build a standalone humanoid robot but rather a broader platform—akin to Android’s role in mobile technology. However, skepticism remains. A Meta spokesperson declined to comment when asked about the project, further fueling speculation.
A Glimmer of Hope?
Despite Meta’s hardware struggles, there have been bright spots. Its Ray-Ban smart glasses, launched in 2023 with EssilorLuxottica, sold two million units by February 12—modest compared to smartphones but a foothold in the emerging XR market.
However, robots present an even steeper challenge. Tesla has brand strength, Nvidia has cutting-edge AI technology, and Meta—despite its vast AI investments—remains better known for social media and advertising.
The Bigger Picture: A Race Against Time
Zuckerberg’s strategy is clear: invest aggressively in AI, VR, and now robotics to future-proof Meta. The goal? To own the next big platform rather than merely existing on others’ terms.
But so far, Meta’s attempts at innovation have been marred by missteps. Can its robotics push finally break the pattern, or will it become another costly experiment? As the tech world watches, one thing is certain—Zuckerberg is running out of chances to prove that Meta can invent the future rather than stumble through it.
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