In a significant development for the robotics industry, Figure, an AI robotics company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, has announced securing $675 million in Series B funding. The funding round, which values Figure at $2.6 billion, saw investments from a consortium of prominent entities including Microsoft, OpenAI Startup Fund, NVIDIA, Jeff Bezos (through Bezos Expeditions), Parkway Venture Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, and ARK Invest. This substantial investment is set to propel Figure’s ambitious plans for commercial deployment of humanoid robots.
The infusion of capital comes at a crucial juncture for Figure, as it aims to expedite the timeline for the deployment of its general-purpose humanoid robots. According to the company, the investment will be channeled into scaling up AI training, robot manufacturing, expanding engineering headcount, and advancing commercial deployment efforts. Furthermore, it will enable Figure to leverage Microsoft Azure for AI infrastructure, training, and storage, facilitating the acceleration of AI breakthroughs.
One of the pivotal aspects of Figure’s expansion strategy is its collaboration with OpenAI, a renowned research organization in the field of artificial intelligence. Through this partnership, Figure aims to develop next-generation AI models tailored specifically for humanoid robots. By combining OpenAI’s cutting-edge research with Figure’s expertise in robotics hardware and software, the collaboration seeks to enhance the capabilities of humanoid robots, particularly in processing and reasoning from language.
Peter Welinder, VP of Product and Partnerships at OpenAI, expressed excitement about the collaboration, highlighting the potential for humanoid robots powered by advanced multimodal models to revolutionize everyday life. This sentiment resonated with Figure’s vision of bringing embodied AI into commercial operations to make a transformative impact on humanity.
Brett Adcock, Founder and CEO of Figure, emphasized the significance of the investment and partnerships in realizing the company’s vision. He underscored the role of AI and robotics in shaping the future, expressing gratitude for the support of investors and partners who share Figure’s commitment to innovation and technological advancement.
While Figure stands at the forefront of humanoid robot development, it faces competition from other vendors such as Appatronik and Agility Robotics. However, analysts foresee strong potential for humanoids, particularly in warehousing operations. Despite the anticipated benefits, adoption of humanoid robots at scale may take time, as highlighted by Ash Sharma, managing director at Interact Analysis. Sharma emphasized the need for gradual adoption and highlighted Amazon’s role as a trailblazer in the robotics industry.
As Figure embarks on its journey to revolutionize the robotics landscape, the collaboration with OpenAI, strategic investments, and pioneering advancements in humanoid technology position the company as a key player in shaping the future of AI and robotics. With the backing of industry leaders and a talented team, Figure is poised to drive innovation and pave the way for transformative solutions in the field of robotics.