Figure, a Sunnyvale, California-based startup focused on developing humanoid robots for heavy and manual labor-intensive industries like warehousing and retail, has teased a new update to its lineup: the 'Figure 02' robot. The company, which recently raised a staggering $675 million in funding and is now valued at $2.6 billion, is backed by tech giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Jeff Bezos.
The new funding will help Figure "ramp up" its timeline for commercial deployment of humanoid robots, including "deploying more robots," according to CEO and founder Brett Adcock. Last month, Figure showcased its Figure 01 prototype making coffee using only neural networks trained on imagery.
Collaboration with OpenAI
In addition to the funding announcement, Figure revealed it has entered into a collaboration agreement with OpenAI to leverage the latter's AI capabilities in developing new models to power the brains of its robots. Peter Welinder, VP of Product and Partnerships at OpenAI, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating:
"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. 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."
Competition in the Humanoid Robot Space
Figure seems poised to compete with Tesla and its Optimus humanoid robotic project, as well as startups like Oregon-based Agility Robotics, which has partnered with Amazon to test its humanoid robot "Digit" for use in fulfillment warehouses.
The backing of established tech and auto names like Microsoft, NVIDIA, and BMW Manufacturing showcases Figure's impressive technology and roadmap, despite being founded just 21 months ago by former employees of Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Google DeepMind, and Archer Aviation.
As Figure continues to make strides in the humanoid robotics space, it will be interesting to see how the collaboration with OpenAI and the development of the Figure 02 robot unfold. With significant funding and partnerships in place, Figure is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the industry and potentially revolutionize the way manual labor-intensive tasks are performed.
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