Meta reportedly collaborating with Fourier to develop humanoid robot Max; Fourier responds that subsequent official announcements should be awaited
According to foreign media citing people familiar with the matter, Meta has collaborated with Chinese robotics company Fourier to develop a humanoid robot prototype named Max, and the two sides are developing a second-generation Max 2, with plans to redesign the torso and hands and add sensors to assist with going up and down stairs. Fourier told The Paper on November 2 that if there is any latest news later, it will be announced through official channels; a Meta spokesperson said the collaboration focuses on internal research and experimentation, and there are currently no plans to sell the prototype. Meta has also recently been recruiting for robot hardware R&D and supply chain positions in Shanghai and Shenzhen, and in May this year acquired humanoid robot foundation model company Assured Robot Intelligence.
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The report outlines the timeline of Meta's collaboration with Fourier, its hiring moves, and previous acquisitions, allowing readers to observe the pace of Meta's layout in humanoid robotics.
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+1 Meta reportedly co-developed a humanoid robot with a Chinese robotics company; Fourier responds to The Paper Reporter Qin Sheng 2026-11-02 11:56 Source: The Paper ∙ 10% Company > Listen to full text Font size
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 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 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 aspects 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 Zhangjiang, Shanghai in 2015, starting from rehabilitation robots and gradually expanding its business to the humanoid robot field. Following the 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 exoskeletons, upper-limb rehabilitation equipment and the 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.
Currently, Fourier has completed its shareholding reform. According to the Tianyancha App, Fourier has completed 12 rounds of financing. Responsible editor: Ge Jia The Paper tip-off: 021-962866 The Paper, unauthorized reproduction is prohibited +1 Favorite I want to report #HumanoidRobot #Meta #Fourier #Robot View more