OpenAI Partners with Figure to Fuse AI into Humanoid Robots
OpenAI Partners with Robotics Startup Figure to Fuse AI into Humanoid Robots
In a groundbreaking move, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has announced a partnership with robotics startup Figure to integrate its artificial intelligence systems into humanoid robots. The collaboration, announced by Sunnyvale, California-based Figure, also includes a significant $675 million in venture capital funding from a group of tech industry giants, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, Nvidia, and the startup-funding divisions of Amazon, Intel, and OpenAI.
Figure, a relatively new player in the robotics industry, aims to revolutionize the market by introducing human-like robots into workplaces and homes on a massive scale. CEO Brett Adcock envisions a future where humanoid robots can perform tasks that humans may not want to do, potentially leading to the sale of millions, or even billions, of these robots.
For OpenAI, known for its AI language models like GPT, this partnership represents a shift back into robotics research. By developing specialized AI models for Figure’s humanoid robots, OpenAI hopes to explore new possibilities for how robots can assist in everyday life. The collaboration is expected to accelerate Figure’s commercial timeline, enabling its robots to process and reason from language, a crucial capability for their deployment in various industries.
While the concept of humanoid robots may evoke emotions and spark conversations, some robotics experts remain skeptical about their practicality. Whitney Rockley, co-founder of McRock Capital, emphasizes the technical challenges and long timeline required for humanoid solutions to achieve commercial success. Despite the hurdles, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed renewed interest in robotics, highlighting the company’s focus on intelligence and cognition as key priorities for advancing robotics technology.
As the partnership between OpenAI and Figure unfolds, the tech industry eagerly anticipates the potential impact of fusing AI with humanoid robots, paving the way for a new era of innovation and automation.
