The robotics industry has been rapidly evolving, and the race to develop and deploy AI-driven humanoid robots is becoming increasingly competitive. One company that has made a significant splash in this arena is Figure AI. Backed by industry giants like OpenAI, NVidia, Microsoft, Intel Capital, and Bezos Expeditions, Figure AI has secured a massive $675 million in funding to support its endeavors.
In August 2024, Figure AI unveiled a trailer video for its latest creation, Figure 02, along with the release date of August 6. While the video is short on specific details, it offers glimpses of the robot’s joints, limbs, and innovative mesh designs for the robot body. It also includes labels indicating torque ratings and range of motion capabilities.
Brett Adcock, the founder of Figure AI, took to Twitter to boast that Figure 02 is “the most advanced humanoid robot on the planet.” With such a bold claim, it’s evident that Figure AI is confident in its technological advancements and believes it has outpaced its competitors.
Figure AI entered the scene in 2022 when Brett Adcock established the company. In March 2023, Figure AI emerged from stealth mode and introduced its first humanoid robot, Figure 01. Designed to address global labor shortages, Figure 01 aimed to perform a wide range of tasks across various industries, including manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail.
To bring their vision to life, Figure AI assembled a team of 40 industry experts, with Dr. Jerry Pratt serving as the Chief Technology Officer. Remarkably, Figure AI completed the full-scale build of Figure 01 in just six months. Adcock envisions these humanoid robots enhancing productivity and safety by tackling unsafe and undesirable jobs. He emphasizes that Figure AI’s robots will never be weaponized, aligning with the company’s commitment to responsible AI development.
Figure AI has already made significant strides in the industry. The company forged a partnership with BMW Manufacturing earlier this year, demonstrating impressive integrations with OpenAI’s GPT-4V vision model. This collaboration establishes Figure AI’s credibility and positions them as a key player in the race to develop advanced humanoid robots.
While Figure AI has been relatively quiet recently, other companies have made significant progress in the field of AI-infused humanoid robots. These companies hope to utilize robots in various settings, such as warehouses, factories, fulfillment centers, retirement homes, healthcare facilities, retail outlets, and private homes.
Historically, humanoid robots have been confined to expensive research projects. However, recent advancements in generative AI, particularly large language models and multimodal AI models, have opened new possibilities. These models can quickly analyze live video and audio inputs, enabling robots to respond with human-like movements and audio.
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla Motors, believes there is a market for more than 10 billion humanoid robots on Earth. Tesla Motors is developing its own rival humanoid robot called Tesla Optimus, emphasizing Musk’s ambition to enter this growing market.
Boston Dynamics, a pioneer in humanoid robotics, also showcased an updated version of its Atlas robot. The new iteration features electric motors instead of hydraulic actuators, leading to improved cost-effectiveness, quiet operation, reliability, and durability.
In light of these advancements from both established players and newcomers in the industry, the competition for developing humanoid robots is intensifying. However, Figure AI, with its significant backing and forward momentum, appears well-poised to continue advancing its efforts in this rapidly evolving field.
The development and deployment of AI-driven humanoid robots have the potential to revolutionize industries and impact everyday lives. As these technologies continue to progress, it will be fascinating to witness how companies like Figure AI shape the future of robotics. With their commitment to innovation, responsibility, and collaboration, Figure AI is well-positioned to contribute to the evolution of humanoid robots and usher in a new era of automation and efficiency.
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