The startup is very much a product of its time: humanoid robots are having a moment. Examples have been showcased by Tesla (though I’d temper your expectations somewhat on that), Apptronik and 1X, among others. Amazon recently began a small pilot with Agility’s Digit robot, which seems to have found its groove supplementing human labor in brownfield warehouses and fulfillment centers.
Most of these efforts — including Figure’s — are working toward that same goal of building robots for industry. Upfront costs are just one reason it makes a lot more sense to focus on the workplace before the home. It’s also one of many reasons it’s important to properly calibrate your expectations of what a system like this can — and can’t — do.
Some companies (namely Tesla again) have perhaps set unrealistic expectations about the current state of the art. I’m speaking primarily about artificial general intelligence, which many roboticists believe is about five years out — though that could well prove optimistic.
“General purpose” gets tossed around a lot when discussing these robots. In essence, it refers to systems that can quickly pick up a variety of tasks the way humans do. Traditional robotics systems are single purpose, meaning they do one thing really well a number of times. Multipurpose systems are certainly out there, and APIs like the kind provided by Boston Dynamics for Spot will go some way toward expanding that functionality.
The eventual goal of generalized AI is, in fact, a big driver for the humanoid form factor. Robots built for a single function are difficult to adapt, while, in theory, a robot built to think like us can do anything we can.
When I visited Figure’s HQ last year, the company had recently built a demo area in the center of its office.
The space’s primary use was showcasing the robot for potential clients and investors. Tellingly, it was set up to resemble a warehouse or factory.
Most people believe that warehouse work is the first step to broader adoption and is perhaps the eventual arrival of a home robot. After all, corporations will happily invest a good chunk of money into a product they believe will save them money in the long run. Also, it’s much easier to fill a day’s work with one or two extremely repetitive tasks. Consumers will almost certainly demand something indistinguishable from generalization before paying the equivalent of a new car to buy one.
It’s worth noting that today’s news also finds Figure signing a partnership with generative AI pioneer OpenAI.
The goal of the deal is to “develop next generation AI models for humanoid robots,” according to Figure. The near-term application for Large Language Models will be the ability to create more natural methods of communication between robot and their human colleagues. “The collaboration aims to help accelerate Figure’s commercial timeline by enhancing the capabilities of humanoid robots to process and reason from language,” the company notes.
Natural language allows people to give the systems commands and gives humans a better understanding of what the robot is doing (hence the ability to “reason” in language). These are, after all, much more complex systems than a human-piloted forklift, for example. If they’re going to operate autonomously, you’re going to need a more direct method of communication — especially on a busy warehouse or factory floor. Language process allows for human assistance in correcting mistakes.
Image Credits: Figure
“We’ve always planned to come back to robotics and we see a path with Figure to explore what humanoid robots can achieve when powered by highly capable multimodal models,” OpenAI VP, Peter Welinder, said in a statement. “We’re blown away by Figure’s progress to date and we look forward to working together to open up new possibilities for how robots can help in everyday life.”
Another thing that makes the deal interesting is OpenAI’s investment in direct competitor, 1X. One wonders whether such a deal is OpenAI rethinking its investments, or if this is simply the company playing the field. My guess at the moment is the latter. If you’re in OpenAI’s position, you might as well work with as many promising companies as you can, and Figure has certainly demonstrated some real progress in the eight months since it took its first steps.
Take the video below, posted a little over a week ago. Figure says the robot’s operations are roughly 16.7% the speed of a human doing the same task. That is, it’s very slow and methodical — deliberate, even. That much is clear from the video. And it’s always good to see a robot operating at actual speed in a demo video, no matter how well produced it happens to be. People have told me in hushed tones that some folks try to pass off sped up videos without disclosing as much. It’s the kind of thing that feeds into consumers’ already unrealistic expectations of what robots can do.
Microsoft’s investment finds Figure utilizing Azure for storage, training and ‘AI infrastructure.
“We are excited to collaborate with Figure and work towards accelerating AI breakthroughs,” said Microsoft Corporate VP, Jon Tinter in a statement. “Through our work together, Figure will have access to Microsoft‘s AI infrastructure and services to support the deployment of humanoid robots to assist people with real world applications.”
Somewhat interestingly, Figure was not included in Bill Gates’ recent list of exciting robotics startups, though two other humanoid companies (Agility and Apptronik) were.
The Amazon Innovation Fund’s participation in this round is also particularly notable, as it can often serve as a pipeline to real-world deployment in fulfillment centers — take Agility as a key example.
The autonomous part is important as well, given the propensity to pass off tele-op for autonomy. One of the reasons autonomy is so difficult in cases like this is all the variations you can’t account for. While warehouses tend to be fairly structured environments, any number of things can occur in the real world that will knock a task off-kilter. And the less structured these tasks become, the larger the potential for error. A lot of questions remain, including how many takes it took to get this right. One thing this absolutely has going for it is the fact that the action is captured in one continuous shot, meaning the company didn’t cobble together a series of actions through creative editing.
Image Credits: Figure
Mechatronics are easier to judge in a short video than AI and autonomy, and from that perspective, the Figure 01 robot appears quite dexterous. In fact, if you look at the angle and positioning of the arms, you’ll notice that it’s performing the carry in a manner that would be quite uncomfortable for most people. It’s important to note that just because the robot looks like a person doesn’t mean that it has to behave exactly like one. My educated guess is that the positioning of the tote has to do with the robot’s center of gravity and perhaps the fact that it appears to be extremely top heavy.
Figure says the money will go toward accelerating its go-to-market. The company has already signed a deal with BMW for robotics deployment.
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Giant Tech Companies Invest $675 Million in Humanoid Robot Starup Figure AI
Tech Titans Back Humanoid Robot Startup Figure AI in $675 Million Funding Round
Investing in the future: Big players like Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, and Nvidia are pouring millions into Figure AI, a company developing human-like robots. This massive $675 million funding round reflects the surging interest in AI robotics and Figure AI’s potential to revolutionize the field.
Key players and investments: Bezos’ firm, Explore Investments, contributes $100 million, while Microsoft and Nvidia chip in $95 million and $50 million, respectively. Other notable backers include Intel, LG, Samsung, and leading venture capital firms.
Figure 01: The robot aiming for real-world impact: Figure AI’s flagship project is Figure 01, designed for hazardous tasks currently deemed too risky for humans. This aligns with the industry’s push to leverage AI for practical solutions.
Steady ascent and rising expectations: This funding round follows Figure AI’s previous success, securing $70 million in 2023. CEO Brett Adcock aims to be the first to bring commercially viable humanoid robots to market.
Tech giants see the potential: The participation of tech giants like Bezos and Microsoft underscores their belief in Figure AI’s potential to advance AI technology significantly. OpenAI’s interest further solidifies Figure AI’s position as a leading contender in the competitive AI robotics space.
Milestone achieved, but the journey continues: Figure AI is exceeding its initial target of $500 million, reflecting investor confidence. The final agreements are expected to be finalized on Monday, paving the way for Figure AI to further develop its revolutionary robots.
The future unfolds: As the AI robotics industry flourishes, Figure AI stands at the forefront, fueled by this substantial funding and a vision for transformative robots. The industry eagerly awaits Figure 01’s development and its potential to address labor challenges and enhance workplace safety.
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