March 1, 2024 Humanoid robot startup Figure has secured a significant $675 million investment from a group of high-profile investors, including Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, OpenAI, and others, marking a significant step forward in the development and deployment of humanoid robots in the workforce. Founded by Brett Adcock, a pioneer in the “flying taxi” industry, Figure has now achieved a valuation of $2.6 billion, highlighting the growing interest and investment in robotic technologies.

This Series B funding round includes contributions from Microsoft, the OpenAI Startup Fund, Nvidia, the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, Bezos Expeditions, Parkway Venture Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, and ARK Invest. The investment is set to accelerate Figure’s timeline for the commercial deployment of humanoid robots, which are expected to join the labor force this year.

A key aspect of this development is the collaboration between Figure and OpenAI to develop next-generation AI models for humanoid robots. This partnership aims to enhance the capabilities of humanoid robots, enabling them to process and reason from language more effectively. Figure’s manufacturing facility, located in Sunnyvale, California, is poised to produce robots that will be integrated into various workplaces, including BMW’s production line and potentially in Amazon warehouses and NASA space exploration projects.

The investment in Figure is part of a broader trend of integrating advanced robotics into the workplace, with companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics also developing humanoid robots. However, the introduction of these robots raises concerns about job displacement, with the industry emphasizing “upskilling” as a solution for workers replaced by robots.