Meta Reportedly Developing Humanoid Robot Max Jointly with Fourier, Working on Second Generation
Meta has partnered with Chinese robotics company Fourier to develop a humanoid robot prototype named Max, and the two sides are now developing a second generation, Max 2, with plans to redesign the torso and hands to improve grasping and manipulation capabilities and to add sensors to assist with going up and down stairs. A Meta spokesperson said the collaboration focuses on internal research and experimentation, and there are currently no plans to sell the prototype. In May this year, Meta also confirmed the acquisition of robotics AI startup Assured Robot Intelligence and is recruiting robotics hardware and supply chain talent in Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Body · AI translation
On November 1, according to foreign media citing people familiar with the matter, Meta has partnered with Chinese robotics company Fourier to develop a humanoid robot prototype named "Max," and the two sides are developing a second generation.
In response, Fourier told The Paper reporters on November 2 that it will inform through official channels if there is any latest news.
According to reports, in late August this year, Meta showed Max to some employees at an internal robotics summit. In September, the two sides began developing the second-generation prototype Max 2, planning to redesign the torso and hands to improve the ability to grasp and manipulate objects, and to add sensors to help the robot go up and down stairs. A Meta spokesperson said that the cooperation with Fourier focuses on internal research and experimentation, and there are currently no plans to sell these prototypes.
Meta has also recently been recruiting robotics hardware R&D and supply chain talent in China. Public recruitment information shows that Meta recruited a robotics supplier development engineer in Shanghai in September, and in October recruited a product design engineer for a robotics studio in Shenzhen. The responsibilities of the Shenzhen position involve all stages of robotics hardware from early design, validation and system integration to mass production.
In May this year, Meta confirmed the acquisition of robotics AI startup Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI). The company develops foundation models for humanoid robots, hoping to enable robots to understand, predict and adapt to human behavior in complex environments. After the acquisition, its team joined Meta Superintelligence Labs.
Fourier was founded in 2015 in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, starting from rehabilitation robots and gradually expanding its business into the humanoid robot field. Following GR-1 and GR-2, Fourier released its third-generation humanoid robot GR-3 in August 2025, targeting social companionship and assisted caregiving scenarios. In April of the same year, the company also released its first open-source humanoid robot, Fourier N1.
In January this year, Fourier reached a strategic cooperation with Gestalt Technology, planning to combine brain-computer interface technology with Fourier's lower-limb exoskeleton, upper-limb rehabilitation equipment and GR-3 humanoid robot to develop a non-invasive brain-controlled rehabilitation solution. Fourier founder and CEO Gu Jie said at the time that the company hopes to use brain-computer interfaces to identify patients' movement intentions, so that rehabilitation robots can provide assistance when patients want to move but have difficulty completing movements on their own.
At present, Fourier has completed its shareholding reform. According to the Tianyancha App, Fourier has completed 12 rounds of financing.