Once again there is news around Figure, a US startup focused on developing humanoid robots. Both billionaire Jeff Bezos, an Amazon investment fund and tech company Nvidia are putting money into the company.
Figure is a company focused on developing humanoid robots, a form of robots that are very similar to humans. For instance, humanoid robots walk on two legs and are equipped with two arms, with which they can perform a variety of tasks.
Performing various tasks
robotics company wants to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help the robots address labour shortages in various sectors, among other things. However, the robots can also improve workplace safety and staff working conditions.
Figure's humanoid robot is characterised by its wide range of applications. For instance, the robot can perform significantly more tasks than industrial robots, offering more flexibility than traditional robots. Humanoid robots can also relieve human employees, leaving them more time for tasks that add more value.
Several parties are investing
Figure is raising money from various parties during an investment round. For instance, billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS), among others, is putting $100 million into the company. An investment fund affiliated with Amazon is also investing in the startup, putting $50 million into Figure.
Tech company Nvidia are also involved in the investment round, investing $50 million in the company. Among other things, Nvidia is known for graphics cards, which play an important role in training AI models. Other investors include LG Innotek, Samsung's investment arm and several venture capitalists. In total, Figure aims to raise $675 million from investors.
Collaboration with OpenAI
OpenAI, known for its generative AI chatbot ChatGPT, has also attracted interest. The AI company is investing $5 million. Together, OpenAI and Figure want to develop next-generation AI models for humanoid robots. To this end, the parties combine OpenAI's expertise in AI models with Figure's expertise in robotics hardware and software.
This is the second time in a month that Figure has been in the news. In early February, it was announced that BMW would be deploying the humanoid robot from the American company Figure in its production facilities. Specifically, this involves the Figure 01 robot. This robot is 1.67 metres tall, weighs around 60 kilograms and can lift loads of up to 20 kilograms. The robot can reach a speed of approximately 1.2 metres per second. It is fully electric; the Figure 01 can operate for around 5 hours on a single battery charge.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Rudy and Peter Skitterians via Pixabay
