Meta builds humanoid robot Max with Chinese firm Fourier
Meta has built a prototype humanoid robot named Max in partnership with Chinese hardware firm Fourier, constructing the bipedal unit in approximately three months, portfolio.hu reported on November 1, 2026. The 48-kilogram machine features an Nvidia Jetson Thor computing chip, an expression-simulating display, and five-fingered hands capable of manipulating small objects, according to Qubit.
Meta Partners with Fourier to Build Max Prototype
The first Max prototype was completed and shown to a select group of Meta employees at a private robotics event in late August 2026, as reported by Qubit. Development on a second version, designated Max 2, began in September. The hardware partnership pairs Meta with Shanghai-based Fourier, a company with roots in rehabilitation robotics and exoskeletons that previously exhibited its GR-3 humanoid at the Consumer Electronics Show, as detailed by Igenyesferfi. The robot stands roughly 1.5 meters tall. Neither Meta nor Fourier made an official public announcement or released technical specifications regarding the project, according to Qubit, which noted that the information originated from project insiders speaking to The Information.
Strategic Integration with Artificial Intelligence Agents
Meta is not planning to commercialize or sell the Max units, positioning the project as a research platform rather than a consumer product, portfolio.hu reported. The social media conglomerate is designing the physical hardware as a vessel for its Muse artificial intelligence agent, intending to handle household tasks and physical interactions. This approach mirrors industry trends where software developers build physical bodies for their operating systems and intelligence layers. Other major technology leaders are pursuing similar physical hardware initiatives, with Sam Altman announcing plans to reveal a humanoid robot in 2027, as noted in reporting by Lukas Ziegler and cited by portfolio.hu.
US Trade Regulations Restrict Chinese Robot Imports
The collaboration with a Chinese robotics supplier intersects with tightening trade regulations in the United States. United States Donald Trump signed a proclamation on October 28, 2026, declaring that imported robots and industrial machinery threaten national security, according to Qubit. The Federal Communications Commission banned the importation of new models of Chinese robots in July 2026, though existing humanoid and quadruped models remain permitted under current rules. Despite these regulatory hurdles, Meta’s robotics vice president, Li-Chen Miller, spent nearly two months at Fourier’s Shanghai facility, and Meta continues to recruit engineering talent in Shanghai and Shenzhen for supply chain and prototyping roles, per Qubit’s reporting on figures from The Information. China-based manufacturers accounted for more than 97 percent of global humanoid robot shipments in the first half of 2026.
🚨 BREAKING:Meta reportedly has built a prototype humanoid robot, in partnership with Chinese startup @FourierRobots.Fourier is one of China’s most capable humanoid hardware companies, sophisticated bipedal platforms, strong actuator supply chains, deep manufacturing… pic.twitter.com/55U48NAXQi