OpenAI And Figure AI Collaborate To Deploy AI-Powered Humanoid Robots.
OpenAI, under the leadership of Sam Altman, is making strides in deploying its cutting-edge technology into humanoid robots. The AI startup has joined forces with Figure AI, an AI robotics company specializing in humanoid robots designed for workforce deployment. This collaboration is poised to address labor shortages and bolster supply chains, with Figure AI currently serving clients in the US.
Figure AI recently announced a significant milestone, securing $675 million in Series B funding at a valuation of $2.6 billion. The funding round saw participation from a notable list of investors, including the OpenAI Startup Fund, Microsoft, Jeff Bezos (via Bezos Expeditions), Parkway Venture Capital, Intel Capital, Nvidia, ARK Invest, and Align Ventures. This influx of capital is expected to expedite the commercial deployment of Figure AI’s humanoid robot.
In addition to the substantial investment, Figure AI has inked a collaboration deal with OpenAI to develop next-generation AI models tailored for humanoid robots. This partnership will blend OpenAI’s groundbreaking research with Figure AI’s profound expertise in robotics, spanning both hardware and software. The primary goal of this collaboration is to enhance the capabilities of humanoid robots, particularly in processing and reasoning from language.
Peter Welinder, VP of Product and Partnerships at OpenAI, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, 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.”
Founded in 2022 in Sunnyvale, California, Figure AI garnered attention for its introduction of Figure 01, a general-purpose robot with movements akin to humans. Brett Adcock, the founder of Figure AI, also serves as the CEO. The company boasts a team comprising top robotics experts from renowned companies such as Tesla, Google DeepMind, Boston Dynamics, and Archer Aviation. Figure AI has made significant strides in AI, robot development, testing, and commercialization.
The recent funding injection will be instrumental in scaling up AI training, robot manufacturing, expanding engineering headcount, and advancing commercial deployment efforts. Additionally, Figure AI plans to leverage Microsoft Azure for AI infrastructure, training, and storage.
Brett Adcock emphasized Figure AI’s vision, stating, “Our vision at Figure is to bring humanoid robots into commercial operations as soon as possible. This investment, combined with our partnership with OpenAI and Microsoft, ensures that we are well-prepared to bring embodied AI into the world to make a transformative impact on humanity.”
The collaboration between OpenAI and Figure AI marks a significant milestone in the advancement of AI-powered humanoid robots, promising innovative solutions to real-world challenges in various industries.
