## Figure Unveils Trailer for New AI-Driven Humanoid Robot: Figure 02
In the race to bring AI-driven humanoid robots into homes and workplaces worldwide, Figure, a company backed by OpenAI and other tech giants, has made a significant announcement. The company recently released a trailer for its latest model, Figure 02, which is set to launch on August 6, 2024. Although the trailer is short on specific details, it offers a glimpse of the robot’s design, showcasing robotic joints, limbs, and flexible mesh designs for the body.
Founder Brett Adcock took to Twitter to assert that Figure 02 is the most advanced humanoid robot on the planet. With Figure AI’s strong financial backing and a team of 40 industry experts, including CTO Dr. Jerry Pratt, the company has been able to rapidly develop these humanoid robots. The goal is to address global labor shortages by deploying the robots in various industries, such as manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail.
## Backed by Prominent Tech and AI Companies
Figure AI, established in 2022 by entrepreneur Brett Adcock, has attracted significant investments from major players in the tech and AI industry. In addition to OpenAI, investors and backers include NVidia, Microsoft, Intel Capital, and Bezos Expeditions, the private fund of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Earlier this year, Figure AI secured a partnership with BMW Manufacturing and showcased integrations with OpenAI’s GPT-4V vision model in its Figure 01 robot.
## A Growing Market for Humanoid Robotics
The competition to develop AI-infused humanoid robots has intensified in recent years. While humanoid robots have been a staple of science fiction, their commercialization has been slow due to expensive designs and limited applications in research settings. However, advancements in generative AI, particularly large language models (LLMs) and multimodal AI models, have paved the way for more practical and versatile humanoid robots. These models can analyze live video and audio inputs, allowing the robots to respond with human-like audio and movements.
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of multiple companies, including Tesla Motors, has expressed his belief in the potential of humanoid robots. He recently stated that he expects there to be a market for more than 10 billion humanoid robots on Earth. Musk’s own company, Tesla Motors, is developing a rival humanoid robot called Tesla Optimus.
## The Future of Figure AI in the Sector
Figure’s latest announcement, coupled with their impressive financial backing and forward momentum, positions the company well in the competitive humanoid robotics sector. As more companies like Nvidia and Boston Dynamics also make strides in this space, the industry is on the cusp of a significant breakthrough. With Figure AI’s focus on enhancing productivity and safety, these humanoid robots have the potential to revolutionize industries and contribute to a more automated and efficient future.