The goal of Figure AI is to place its robot, Figure 01, in physically demanding and high-demand positions.
In the present moment, what do companies such as Intel, LG, Nvidia, Microsoft, Samsung, and OpenAI have in common? Every single one of them is placing significant wagers on Figure AI, a startup that is only concerned with the construction and deployment of humanoid robots. It is said that the company, which is situated in California, has been successful in securing finance totaling 675 million dollars, having attracted some of the most influential institutions within the technology industry.
This information comes from Bloomberg, which reports that Microsoft has committed $95 million to Figure AI, while Nvidia has committed $50 million. The venture capital section of Intel Corporation has committed $25 million, while LG Innotek has invested $8.5 million and Samsung has invested $5 million. A staggering one hundred million dollars has been pledged by Jeff Bezos, and OpenAI, which had been considering purchasing the business but ultimately decided against doing so, has instead contributed five million dollars to the cause of Figure AI. In addition, venture capital firms such as Parkway Venture Capital and Tamarack are contributing to Figure AI’s success in surpassing its initial investment objective of $500 million.
With these finances, Figure AI will be able to intensify its efforts to perfect and manufacture Figure 01, the company’s flagship robot. Figure 01 has a height of 5 feet and 6 inches and a weight of 132 pounds respectively. It is able to move at a speed of 1.2 metres per second, which is equivalent to around 2.7 miles per hour, and it can carry a maximum of 44 pounds at a time, making it a plausible alternative for a variety of warehouse operations. Figure AI has not disclosed the type of charger that their robot employs or the amount of time it takes for the battery to reach its maximum capacity, despite the fact that we are aware that Figure 01’s battery has a lifespan of five hours.
The humanoid that Tesla has created, Optimus, will surely be a competitor for Figure 01. Since Elon Musk, the CEO of the firm, demonstrated Optimus at AI Day 2022, the company has shifted its focus from an exploratory prototype known as Bumblebee to “a more stable, Tesla-designed platform” known as Optimus Gen-1. It has been claimed that Optimus is walking faster, which can be attributed to a more human-like gait and a reduction in the number of falls. Additionally, the humanoid is currently undergoing a few physical articulation modifications that will ready it for a wider variety of applications.
Figure AI, much like Tesla, has stated that its objective is to alleviate labor shortages and remove humans from positions that have the potential to cause bodily harm. This mission may appear to be admirable at first glance, but it may have complicated repercussions. In addition to the reality that many so-called labor shortages are the result of inadequate pay or worker rights, the methodology utilized by Figure AI is a little bit concerning. “Move fast and be technically fearless” is the first principle of the startup, which not only poses a financial risk for previous technology firms but also has the potential to be a cinematic disaster for a company that is working with humanoid robots.
For the time being, we can take solace in the fact that Figure AI has assured us that it “will not place humanoids in military or defense applications, nor any roles that require inflicting harm on humans.” Let’s simply keep our fingers crossed that it remains that way.