February 15, 2025 – According to informed sources quoted by Reuters on the 14th local time, Figure AI, a robotics startup, is in talks with investors to raise 1.5billioninfunding,whichwouldbringthecompany′svaluationto39.5 billion after the financing round.
With the rapid development of AI technology, technology giants such as NVIDIA, Meta, and Tesla, along with several startups, are intensifying their research and development efforts in humanoid robots. The goal is to utilize advanced AI models to drive innovation in robotics and automation technology.
These companies envision humanoid robots addressing potential future labor shortages and taking over dangerous and repetitive tasks in industries like logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing. Reports indicate that Figure AI already counts BMW among its clients.
Last year, the startup announced a successful funding round of 675million,ledbyinvestorsincludingOpenAI,NVIDIA,Microsoft,andAmazonfounderJeffBezos,whichvaluedthecompanyat2.6 billion.
However, Bret Adcock, the founder and CEO of Figure AI, revealed last week that the company has decided to terminate its partnership with OpenAI due to significant breakthroughs in its own AI technology for robots. In a statement on the X platform, he said, “Figure’s AI models are developed entirely in-house, and external partnerships have become both cumbersome and irrelevant to our success.”
Meta has also been reported to be forming a new team within its Reality Labs division, focused on developing AI-powered humanoid robots capable of assisting with physical labor.
Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated last year that the company’s humanoid robot, Optimus, could be ready by the end of the following year.
