Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock just revealed that its next-gen humanoid, Figure 04, has reached full design lock with parts already shipping. Backed by $2B in cash and a $3.5B compute deal, the company is burning millions weekly to feed human video data into its Helix 3.0 "baby AGI" model.
Figure AI founder Brett Adcock just launched Hark, a new AI lab that operated in stealth for eight months. The company plans to build advanced personal intelligence paired with custom next-generation hardware, aiming to create a universal interface that offloads daily mental workloads.
Figure AI just introduced Figure 03, its third-generation humanoid robot engineered for the home and mass manufacturing. Built to power its proprietary Helix AI, the robot features tactile fingertips sensitive to three grams of pressure, washable fabric coverings, and 2 kW wireless inductive charging. Why it matters: It shifts humanoids from experimental lab hardware toward consumer-ready scale.
Figure just showed off its Figure 02 humanoid robot autonomously folding and stacking towels with zero teleoperation or pre-scripted code. Running on its Helix neural network, the robot's multi-fingered hands can trace edges, smooth wrinkles, and adapt to fabric slips. Why it matters: The same model that worked in BMW's plant made the jump from warehouse logistics to household chores with just 500 hours of human demo data.
Figure is reportedly in advanced talks with UPS to deploy its latest humanoid robots across the delivery giant's logistics network. While specific roles remain unconfirmed, the setup would complement UPS's broader push into robotics and automation. Why it matters: With Figure targeting 100K robots shipped by 2028, a UPS partnership could serve as a vital proving ground outside of controlled demos.
Meta is making a major bet on humanoid robots, setting up a dedicated team inside Reality Labs led by former Cruise CEO Marc Whitten. Instead of rushing to sell its own branded bot, Meta wants to build the underlying AI, sensor, and software platform using Llama to power third-party hardware, with talks already underway with Figure AI and Unitree.
OpenAI just restarted its in-house robotics research group after pulling the plug three years ago. The company is now actively hiring engineers to train multimodal models for partner robots, confirming that after backing Figure AI, it wants a direct hand in shaping embodied intelligence.
Humanoid robot maker Figure AI just raised $675 million at a $2.6 billion valuation from Big Tech heavyweights, including Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Along with the cash, Figure signed a deal with OpenAI to develop next-generation multimodal models for its robots. Why it matters: the tech giants are officially racing to put frontier AI into physical bodies.
Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly in discussions to invest up to $500 million in humanoid robot startup Figure AI. Under the proposed deal, Microsoft would put in around $95 million and OpenAI $5 million, valuing the startup at $1.9 billion before funding. The round is meant to fuel its general-purpose Figure 01 robot, though final terms could still change.
