Figure AI's robots can make a bed faster than you - Business Insider
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Key takeaways
- The most recent headlines show that humanoid robotics is moving from prototypes to large‑scale industrial use and toward consumer‑grade capabilities.
- A UK‑based startup called Humanoid has signed a binding, phased supply agreement with motion‑technology giant Schaeffler to integrate a four‑digit fleet of wheeled humanoid robots into live manufacturing operations, beginning at two German sites between December 2026 and June 2027 and aiming for thousands of units worldwide by 2032; the deal also includes a seven‑digit actuator order that hints at a potential 100,000‑robot rollout by 2031.
- At the same time, Figure AI unveiled a video of its Helix 02 humanoid robots making a bed together and announced that the machines have been retrained to handle more complex household tasks such as opening doors, pushing furniture and draping clothing, though a consumer launch date has not been set.
- Competition in the sector is heating up, with Figure and rival 1X releasing new factory‑floor footage that contrasts their differing design and manufacturing approaches.
- Industry analysts at the Robotics Summit highlighted a technical roadmap for scaling humanoids, emphasizing high‑bandwidth sensor fusion, real‑time edge AI and precision motor control, while Analog Devices pointed to a convergence of perception technologies from automotive to humanoid platforms.
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The latest news and analysis on robotics, from humanoid AI to real-world automation.
The latest news and analysis on robotics, from humanoid AI to real-world automation.
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Figure AI's robots can make a bed faster than you
By Rya Jetha Figure AI said it trained Helix 02, the model it introduced earlier this year, on new data so the robots could handle more complex tasks, including opening doors, pushing furniture, and draping clothing. It did not say when its humanoid will become available to consumers.
Figure AI has raised more than $1 billion and is valued at $39 billion. The company faces stiff competition from Tesla, which is developing its own humanoid robot, Optimus.
Last year, Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock announced that the company was no longer collaborating with OpenAI, an investor in Figure AI, on the development of AI models for robots. Adcock ended the partnership after less than a year, after OpenAI told him that it planned to pursue humanoids internally. By Rya Jetha
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Figure AI released a video of two humanoid robots making a bed together. CEO Brett Adcock is working toward "building a new species" that can reproduce and share knowledge. Figure AI faces competition from Tesla, which is developing a humanoid robot, Optimus.
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