ai
Meta Acquires Assured Robot Intelligence
Meta has acquired Assured Robot Intelligence, a San Diego-based startup focused on AI for humanoid robots. The acquisition integrates ARI's team into Meta to optimize models for robotics applications. This move supports Meta's ongoing expansion in robotics within its Reality Labs division.
May 1, 4:47 PM·1m read2 sources
techjuice.pkAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Meta acquired Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI) on Friday, marking a step in the company's push toward humanoid robotics. Xiaolong Wang, cofounder of ARI, announced the acquisition in an X post on Friday. Meta and AIX Ventures confirmed the acquisition to Business Insider.
Bloomberg first reported the acquisition. Assured Robot Intelligence is a startup developing AI for humanoids. ARI is developing AI models that will power humanoid robots. ARI is a San Diego-based startup with about 20 employees.
The startup’s team will join Meta to focus on optimizing its models for robotics applications. AIX Ventures was the first institutional investor to commit to ARI when it was founded in May 2025. Nick Crance, a partner at AIX Ventures, said ARI is focused on high-precision dexterity and manipulation in robotics.
ARI is led by cofounders Xiaolong Wang and Lerrel Pinto. Xiaolong Wang was a researcher at Nvidia and is a member of the electrical and computer engineering faculty at the University of California, San Diego. Lerrel Pinto is CEO of ARI, cofounded Fauna Robotics, and is a computer science professor at New York University.
Physical Intelligence, Generalist AI, and Genesis AI are startups focused on the intelligence layer of robots rather than hardware. Meta formed a robotics group within its Reality Labs division in 2025, according to a memo obtained by Business Insider. Meta has tapped new leadership and expanded its hardware team for Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL).
