Meta acquires Assured Robot Intelligence to advance humanoid robot AI

Meta has purchased Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI), a startup that builds artificial‑intelligence systems for robots. The financial terms were not disclosed. Meta will integrate ARI’s team—including co‑founders Xiaolong Wang, Lerrel Cheng and Lerrel Pinto—into its Meta Superintelligence Labs to develop a universal software platform that can control whole‑body humanoid robots. CTO Andrew Bosworth said the goal is to create “Android for robots,” licensing the software to manufacturers rather than building hardware itself.

Wang said the new system aims to produce a truly general physical agent that can learn directly from human experience. Meta’s move positions the company against rivals such as Tesla, which is repurposing its Fremont plant for its Optimus robot, and Google’s Gemini Robotics. Analysts cite a market that could reach $38 billion by 2035 and possibly $5 trillion by 2050, underscoring the long‑term strategic importance of the acquisition.