Figure Secures $675 Million Funding, Partners with OpenAI for Robotics Innovation

On Thursday, robotics startup Figure revealed a major milestone, securing a substantial $675 million in funding from a consortium of investors. Among them are tech giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon.com, alongside renowned entrepreneur Jeff Bezos. This significant investment has catapulted the company’s valuation to an impressive $2.6 billion, highlighting the burgeoning enthusiasm surrounding robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Figure specializes in developing advanced humanoid robots. Alongside the funding announcement, the company revealed a strategic collaboration with OpenAI, a renowned leader in AI research. This partnership aims to leverage OpenAI’s expertise in generative AI to enhance Figure’s robotic capabilities.

The emergence of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a powerful language model, has sparked widespread interest in AI across industries. Companies are increasingly recognizing the potential of integrating AI technologies into robotics, prompting substantial investment to capitalize on this growing trend. The involvement of prestigious backers like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon underscores the confidence in Figure’s vision and technology.

In addition to the major players mentioned, other contributors to Figure’s funding round include the OpenAI Startup Fund, Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, Parkway Venture Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, and ARK Invest. This diverse array of investors reflects the broad appeal and potential applications of Figure’s robotics technology.

Brett Adcock, the founder and CEO of Figure, outlined the company’s plans for utilizing the newly acquired funds. A significant portion will be allocated towards the development of large language models tailored specifically for robotics applications. Additionally, Figure intends to scale up its manufacturing capabilities and expand its workforce to support its ambitious growth trajectory.

A notable aspect of Figure’s strategy involves transitioning its AI infrastructure and training to Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing platform. This move underscores the importance of robust AI infrastructure in enabling the development and deployment of advanced robotics solutions. Adcock emphasized that Figure’s AI models will leverage OpenAI’s cutting-edge GPT models, fine-tuned with robotics action data collected by the company. This integration aims to equip Figure’s humanoid robots with advanced capabilities, including natural language processing, computer vision, and physical task execution.

Peter Welinder, Vice President of Product and Partnerships at OpenAI, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Figure. He highlighted the potential for humanoid robots empowered by sophisticated AI models to revolutionize various industries, citing Figure’s innovative approach to exploring these possibilities.

The resurgence of interest in humanoid robots reflects the evolving landscape of robotics and AI technologies. Industry leaders like Tesla’s Elon Musk have made bold predictions about the widespread adoption of humanoid robots in the coming decades, further fueling excitement in this space. Tesla’s recent unveiling of its humanoid robot, Optimus Gen, underscores the growing momentum behind humanoid robotics research and development.

While Bloomberg initially reported on Figure’s fundraising efforts, providing insights into the investors’ commitments, including Bezos’s significant contribution through Explore Investments LLC and Microsoft’s substantial investment, the full scope of the funding round highlights the broad support Figure has garnered within the tech and investment communities.

Last month, Figure solidified its position in the robotics landscape by securing a partnership with BMW Manufacturing. This collaboration will see Figure deploying its humanoid robots within BMW’s facilities in the United States, further validating the company’s innovative approach to robotics.

Figure’s successful funding round marks a significant milestone in its journey to revolutionize robotics through advanced AI technologies. With a strong backing from industry heavyweights and a clear vision for the future, Figure is poised to make substantial strides in reshaping the landscape of humanoid robotics.