Report: Meta Collaborates with China's Fourier Intelligence on Humanoid Robot Prototype 'Max' Amid US Regulatory Hurdles
Meta leveraged Chinese firm Fourier's hardware expertise to rapidly build the Max prototype, but US import restrictions on foreign robots pose a challenge for future mass production.
According to recent reporting by technology media outlet The Information, US tech giant Meta is collaborating with Chinese robotics startup Fourier Intelligence to develop a humanoid robot named "Max." The report states that the prototype was completed in approximately three months, and work on a second-generation version, Max 2, has already begun. This marks a significant shift in Meta's physical AI strategy, moving from software research to tangible hardware development.
Citing people familiar with the matter, The Information reported that Max stands about 1.5 meters tall, weighs 48 kilograms, and features an NVIDIA Jetson Thor chip with independent motion control software. Designed for home interaction scenarios, the robot can simulate facial expressions and grasp small objects. Rather than purchasing off-the-shelf products, Meta reconfigured height, proportions, and sensors based on Fourier's experience from its previous three generations of robots. Li-Chen Miller, Meta's VP of Robotics Products, reportedly spent nearly two months at Fourier's Shanghai facility participating in the development.
This cross-border collaboration occurs as the United States tightens regulations on foreign-made robots. In July 2026, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added certain foreign-made advanced robotic devices to a Covered List, generally restricting their import and sale in the US. While current rules allow limited imports for testing under specific conditions, the FCC has proposed reducing these exemptions. A Meta spokesperson told The Information that difficulty sourcing certain components domestically is an industry reality, emphasizing that the current collaboration is for internal research and experimentation, with no plans to sell the prototypes.