OpenAI has recently announced a collaboration agreement with Figure AI to develop advanced AI models for humanoid robots, with the aim of enhancing their capabilities to assist in everyday life. The partnership seeks to leverage OpenAI's research and large multimodal models to enable Figure's robots to process and reason from language, ultimately accelerating Figure's commercial timeline.
Figure AI, supported by major players like Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Jeff Bezos, disclosed a successful $675 million Series B funding round, valuing the company at $2.6 billion. OpenAI's interest in robotics is evident, having led a significant funding round in robotics startup 1X Technologies last year, emphasizing the potential of robots to transform the future of work.
OpenAI's executives have expressed optimism about the collaboration with Figure AI, highlighting the potential for humanoid robots powered by advanced multimodal models to revolutionize various industries such as manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail. Figure AI's robot, Figure-01, has demonstrated capabilities in supporting tasks that may address labor shortages in sectors like manufacturing.
Recent data from the US Chamber of Commerce indicates a substantial number of unfilled manufacturing job openings, underscoring the potential for robots like Figure-01 to contribute to addressing workforce challenges. Figure AI's CEO showcased a significant milestone with Figure-01 successfully operating a coffee machine, showcasing the robot's ability to learn tasks by observing human actions.
Figure AI envisions a scalable approach to deploying its robots across various applications, with the fleet's expansion leading to improved performance through data collection and re-training. The company's progress has impressed OpenAI, with both entities eager to explore the possibilities of humanoid robots in enhancing daily life activities.
While OpenAI did not provide immediate comments on the collaboration, the partnership with Figure AI signifies a significant step towards advancing AI-powered robotics and their potential impact on future work environments.
