Figure AI, Inc. is an American robotics company that develops humanoid robots designed to operate through artificial intelligence. Founded in 2022 by Brett Adcock, the company has focused on creating general-purpose machines capable of performing manual labor and household tasks. By late 2025, Figure AI had reached a valuation of $39 billion, reflecting rapid growth in the competitive field of humanoid robotics. The company has released three generations of robots, Figure 01 through Figure 03, and two iterations of a vision-language-action model called Helix, which can control up to two robots simultaneously.
The company's approach integrates advanced Machine learning techniques, including Large language model capabilities, to enable robots to process language and interact with their environment. While an early partnership with OpenAI ended after a year, Figure AI has continued to develop proprietary AI models for robot control and perception. By 2026, demonstrations showed the robots performing household chores, and a Figure 03 appeared at a White House event, drawing significant public attention.
Founding and Early Development
Figure AI was founded in 2022 by Brett Adcock, an entrepreneur previously known for founding Archer Aviation, Vettery, and Hark. The company introduced its first prototype, Figure 01, that same year. This bipedal robot was designed for manual labor, initially targeting the logistics and warehousing sectors. The early model used external cabling to simplify maintenance, reflecting a focus on practical deployment in industrial settings.
In May 2023, Figure AI raised $70 million in funding from investors including Adcock, who contributed $20 million, and Parkway Venture Capital. This initial capital supported further development of the robot's hardware and software. The company's early strategy emphasized creating machines that could handle repetitive and physically demanding tasks, positioning itself within the broader field of Generative AI and robotics.
Major Funding and Partnerships
In January 2024, Figure AI announced a partnership with BMW to deploy humanoid robots in automotive manufacturing facilities. This collaboration marked one of the first major commercial agreements for the company, signaling confidence in its technology for industrial use. The following month, Figure AI secured $675 million in venture capital funding from a consortium that included Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel, and the startup-funding divisions of Amazon and OpenAI. This round valued the company at $2.6 billion.
As part of this funding, Figure AI announced a partnership with OpenAI to build specialized AI models for its humanoid robots, enabling them to process language. However, the collaboration ended after a year. Adcock stated that large language models had become a smaller problem compared to those allowing for "high rate robot control," indicating a shift in focus toward more fundamental control systems. In September 2025, a third round of financing exceeded $1 billion, raising the company's total valuation to $39 billion. Investors included Brookfield Asset Management, Intel, Macquarie Capital, Nvidia, Parkway Venture Capital, Qualcomm, Salesforce, and T-Mobile.
Figure 01 and Figure 02
Figure 01, the initial prototype, was a bipedal robot with external cabling, designed for easy maintenance. It laid the groundwork for subsequent models, establishing the company's core design principles of mobility and manual dexterity. In August 2024, the company introduced Figure 02, which it described as the next step toward deploying humanoids for industrial use. The Figure 02 featured five-fingered hands with 16 degrees of freedom (DOF) and the ability to carry up to 25 kilograms (55 pounds).
The Figure 02 model incorporated cabling integrated into the limbs, a torso-placed battery, six RGB cameras, and an onboard vision-language-action (VLA) model. It had three times the computing power of the previous model, including two graphics processing units supported by NVIDIA. Microphones, speakers, and custom AI models developed with OpenAI enabled communication with humans. This generation represented a significant leap in both hardware and software, allowing for more complex tasks and interactions.
Helix and BotQ
In early 2025, Figure AI announced BotQ, a manufacturing facility designed to produce 12,000 humanoids per year with the help of its own robots. This move aimed to scale production and reduce costs, positioning the company for broader market adoption. The same period saw the release of Helix, a VLA model that can control up to two robots at once. According to the company, Helix enables a robot to interact with the world without extensive manual training, allowing it to pick up nearly any small household object.
Helix represented a major advancement in Artificial intelligence for robotics, integrating perception and action in a unified model. By January 2026, Helix 02 was released, expanding the AI model to the entire body to allow for functional autonomy. A Helix 02-powered Figure 02 was shown to be capable of loading and unloading a dishwasher, based on hours of motion-capture data and simulation-based Deep learning. This progression highlighted the company's commitment to developing sophisticated AI systems that can handle real-world variability.
Figure 03 and Recent Developments
In October 2025, Figure 03 was introduced. Standing 5.5 feet (1.7 meters) tall, the machine has 60 total DOF, including 20 for each hand. According to the company, its hardware and software redesign aims to create a general-purpose robot able to learn directly from humans. An upgraded camera system delivers twice the frame rate, a quarter the latency, and a 60% wider field of view, in addition to a camera in each hand. Tactile sensors in the fingertips can detect forces as little as 3 grams (0.1 ounce).
The Figure 03 incorporates soft materials and a protected battery for safety, as well as removable, washable textiles. It supports wireless inductive charging, enhancing its usability in domestic settings. By April 2026, the company had delivered over 350 Figure 03 models and increased its production output to one robot every hour. That May, Adcock stated that the company would soon lease the robot for domestic use for around $600 a month. A group of Figure 03 robots was livestreamed processing packages for almost a full week, inspiring a 10-hour competition between the product and a person; the robot performed 98.5% as well as the human.
Applications and Demonstrations
By early 2026, Figure 02 had been used in demonstrations showing that it could load a washing machine, sort packages, and fold laundry. These tasks illustrated the robots' potential for household work, a key market for the company. In March 2026, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump appeared at the White House with a Figure 03, promoting the presumptive eventual ability of AI to teach children. This event brought significant publicity to the company, highlighting the societal implications of humanoid robotics.
By the end of June 2026, the company had about 740 robots operating, as opposed to only 600 humans, according to Adcock. That August, he shared a video of a Figure 03 climbing a short ladder, demonstrating the robot's mobility and balance. These applications show a trajectory from industrial use toward broader consumer and service roles, though widespread domestic adoption remains nascent.
Safety and Controversy
In November 2025, the former head of product safety sued the company on the basis of being fired for raising the concern that the company's robots were strong enough to fracture a human skull. This lawsuit highlighted potential risks associated with powerful humanoid machines operating near people. The company has not publicly detailed its safety protocols beyond the design features of Figure 03, such as soft materials and protected batteries. As of late 2026, the outcome of the lawsuit remains unclear, and the incident underscores the regulatory and ethical challenges facing the industry.
See Also
- List of robotics companies
- List of robots
References
External Links
- Official website