# Josh Merel: person

Canonical ID: `e8316bc5-cc94-46f6-87ea-ecd962af3de1`

Robot locomotion expert and former Google DeepMind researcher; co-authored Nature paper on AI-powered virtual rat. Previously worked at CTRL-labs, which was acquired by Facebook in 2019.

- **Verification posture:** reported

## Current roles (1)

- [Fauna Robotics](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/fauna-robotics.md) CTO & Co-founder (_reported, not verified_)

## Foundings (1)

- [Fauna Robotics](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/fauna-robotics.md) (cofounder)

## Former / Previously (2)

- [Meta](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/meta.md) Employee at CTRL-labs (acquired by Facebook 2019) (2017-07-02 to 2019-07-02) (_reported, not verified_)
- [Google](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/google.md) Researcher at Google DeepMind (2015-07-02 to 2017-07-02) (_reported, not verified_)

## Sources (1)

1. https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2026/not-ready-for-robots-in-homes-the-maker-of-a-friendly-new-humanoid-thinks-it-might-change-your-mind/


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