🔥 Big Boost for Robotics: Figure Raises $675 Million
posted 29 Feb 2024
American startup Figure, specializing in robotics, has garnered $675 million in investments from technological giants including Microsoft, OpenAI, Amazon, and Nvidia. This influx of capital has propelled the 80-person company to a valuation of $2.6 billion. Figure's initial plan was to develop a humanoid robot within its first year of operation.
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,commented OpenAI Vice President Peter Welinder.
Yet, the world only got a glimpse of the robot's capabilities on February 27, 2024, through a demonstration video. Despite the rising interest in general-purpose robots, Figure's dedication to producing AI-driven robots for manufacturing remains unwavering.
Figure is not alone in its endeavor, sharing the field with Elon Musk’s Tesla, Apptronik, and even Amazon, which recently launched a project aimed at potentially aiding warehouse workers. Despite this, the industry consensus suggests that creating a multifunctional robot might not be achievable in the next five years.