In February 2024, Figure AI, an American robotics company developing humanoid robots, raised $675 million in a Series B funding round. The investment was led by a consortium of prominent technology firms and individuals, including Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel, and the startup-funding divisions of Amazon and OpenAI. The round valued the company at $2.6 billion, marking a significant milestone in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence and robotics.
Figure AI, founded in 2022 by Brett Adcock, focuses on creating general-purpose humanoid robots capable of operating in various environments. The company had previously raised $70 million in May 2023, with Adcock personally investing $20 million. The 2024 round represented a substantial increase in investor confidence, driven by advancements in AI models and the potential for humanoid robots to transform industries such as logistics, manufacturing, and domestic work.
Background and Founding
Figure AI was established in 2022 by Brett Adcock, an entrepreneur known for founding Archer Aviation, Vettery, and Hark. The company's mission is to develop humanoid robots that can perform tasks traditionally done by humans, leveraging artificial intelligence to enable autonomy and adaptability. The initial prototype, Figure 01, was introduced that year, designed for manual labor in logistics and warehousing. The robot featured external cabling for easier maintenance, reflecting an early focus on practical deployment.
In May 2023, Figure AI raised $70 million in funding from investors including Parkway Venture Capital and Adcock himself, who contributed $20 million. This early capital supported the development of the robot's hardware and software, setting the stage for the larger round in 2024.
The $675 Million Round
The February 2024 funding round was notable for its high-profile participants. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, invested through his venture vehicle, while Microsoft, Nvidia, and Intel participated as strategic investors. Amazon's startup-funding division and OpenAI's venture arm also contributed, reflecting the intersection of cloud computing, AI research, and hardware innovation. The round valued Figure AI at $2.6 billion, a significant jump from its previous valuation.
This investment was part of a broader trend of large funding rounds in AI and robotics during 2024, similar to other major deals in the sector. The participation of Nvidia, a leader in GPU technology, underscored the importance of computational power for training and running AI models on robots. Microsoft's involvement highlighted the role of cloud services in scaling AI capabilities.
Strategic Partnerships
Alongside the funding, Figure AI announced a partnership with OpenAI to develop specialized AI models for its humanoid robots. This collaboration aimed to enable robots to process language and interact with humans more naturally. However, the partnership ended after a year, with Adcock stating that large language models had become a smaller problem compared to those enabling "high rate robot control." This shift reflected a growing focus on real-time control and physical interaction rather than conversational abilities.
Development of Humanoid Robots
Following the 2024 funding, Figure AI accelerated its product development. In August 2024, the company introduced Figure 02, a second-generation robot designed for industrial use. Figure 02 featured five-fingered hands with 16 degrees of freedom (DOF) and the ability to carry up to 25 kilograms (55 lb). It included integrated cabling, a torso-placed battery, six RGB cameras, and an onboard vision-language-action (VLA) model. The robot had three times the computing power of its predecessor, including two graphics processing units supported by Nvidia, and could communicate with humans using microphones, speakers, and custom AI models developed with OpenAI.
In early 2025, Figure AI announced BotQ, a manufacturing facility aimed at producing 12,000 humanoids per year, with the help of its own robots. The company also introduced Helix, a VLA model capable of controlling up to two robots simultaneously. Helix enabled robots to interact with the world without extensive manual training, allowing them to pick up nearly any small household object.
Market Impact and Valuation
By September 2025, Figure AI raised a third round of financing exceeding $1 billion, bringing its total valuation to $39 billion. Investors included Brookfield Asset Management, Intel, Macquarie Capital, Nvidia, Parkway Venture Capital, Qualcomm, Salesforce, and T-Mobile. This growth reflected the increasing commercial viability of humanoid robots and the company's progress in deploying them in real-world settings.
In October 2025, Figure 03 was introduced, standing 5.5 feet (1.7 meters) tall with 60 total DOF, including 20 per hand. The robot featured an upgraded camera system with twice the frame rate, a quarter the latency, and a 60% wider field of view, plus cameras in each hand. Tactile sensors in the fingertips could detect forces as little as 3 grams (0.1 oz). It incorporated soft materials and a protected battery for safety, and supported wireless inductive charging.
Broader AI and Robotics Context
The 2024 funding round occurred during a period of intense investment in artificial intelligence and robotics. Companies like OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Microsoft (AI) were actively funding startups to advance Machine learning and Artificial intelligence capabilities. The round also highlighted the role of amazon and Intel in the robotics ecosystem, as well as the growing importance of Inference (AI) and Deep learning technologies.
The partnership with OpenAI was part of a series of collaborations between AI research labs and robotics companies. Similar to other funding rounds in the sector, such as Anthropic 2024 Funding Round and Mistral AI 2024 Funding, the investment reflected confidence in the potential of AI-driven automation.
Challenges and Controversies
Despite its success, Figure AI faced challenges. In November 2025, the former head of product safety sued the company, alleging he was fired for raising concerns that the robots were strong enough to fracture a human skull. This raised questions about safety protocols and corporate governance. By early 2026, Figure 02 robots were demonstrated performing household tasks like loading a washing machine and folding laundry, but the company also faced scrutiny over the destruction of outdated robots. In September 2026, most Figure 02 units were melted down in arc furnaces at Ovako's steel mill in Imatra, Finland, to protect proprietary hardware details, a move suggested by Arnold Schwarzenegger, referencing a scene from Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Future Outlook
By mid-2026, Figure AI had delivered over 350 Figure 03 models and increased production to one robot per hour. The company announced plans to lease robots for domestic use at around $600 per month, with the Figure 04 design locked. In late August 2026, Figure AI launched a gig economy platform called Index to capture work data from humans wearing sensors, expected to cost $1 billion over the next year. The company also announced it would spend upwards of $3.5 billion on Nvidia GPUs by the next year, underscoring its commitment to scaling AI capabilities.
As of late 2025, Figure AI was valued at $39 billion, positioning it as a leader in the humanoid robotics space. The 2024 funding round was a pivotal moment, providing the capital and strategic partnerships needed to advance from prototype to production. The company's trajectory reflects broader trends in Robotics and Generative AI, where investments are driving rapid innovation and deployment.
See Also
- Figure AI's Series B (2024)
- Figure AI's Series C (2025)
- Figure AI's Series A (2023)
- OpenAI 2024 Funding Round
- NVIDIA