Figure AI exits OpenAI to focus on new humanoid robots

According to well-known technology media TC reports, Figure AI, the innovative company dedicated to bringing universal humanoid robots to the commercial and residential fields, officially announced on the X platform on Tuesday that it will terminate its cooperation deal with artificial intelligence giant OpenAI. The decision has attracted a lot of attention in the industry, especially when considering OpenAI's significant influence on cultural and technological trends.

Figure AI, a Bay Area-based company, has made major breakthroughs in the convergence of artificial intelligence and robotics in recent years. It is based on these breakthrough developments that the company decided to focus on the research and development of internal artificial intelligence technology in order to achieve a more far-reaching impact in the humanoid robot market. In a follow-up conversation with TechCrunch, Figure AI's founder and CEO Brett Adcock, while keeping a low profile on the specifics of the partnership, confidently revealed that the company will launch an unprecedented humanoid robot in the next 30 days, which has undoubtedly injected new expectations and energy into the market.

Looking back, OpenAI has been a long-term partner and investor in Figure AI. The two companies announced a strategic deal last year to jointly develop next-generation artificial intelligence models for humanoid robots. At the same time, Figure AI also successfully raised $675 million, and the company's overall valuation climbed to $2.6 billion, demonstrating the market's high recognition of the company and the potential of its technology. To date, Figure AI has raised a cumulative total of $1.5 billion from various investors, providing solid financial support for its continued innovation in the field of humanoid robots.

However, while the partnership with OpenAI seemed promising, Figure AI ultimately chose to part ways. In explaining the decision, Adcock pointed out that integration issues in the partnership process became a major obstacle. As a large company with a wide range of intelligent models, OpenAI's core business is not focused on applying artificial intelligence to physical objects, known as "Embodied AI." In contrast, incorporating AI technology into physical entities such as humanoid robots requires more sophisticated and vertically integrated solutions.

Adcock stressed that in order to solve the challenges of embodied AI at scale in the real world, an end-to-end AI model that is designed to power specific hardware must be built. "We can't outsource AI for the same reason we can't outsource hardware," he explains. Vertical integration is key to achieving this." This view reflects Figure AI's dedication to technical autonomy and depth.

At the same time, OpenAI's development strategy in the field of humanoid robots is relatively cautious. As a major backer of Norwegian robotics startup 1X, OpenAI's application of humanoid robots is more focused on the home environment, which is in contrast to most humanoid robot companies that focus on warehouse and factory applications. While Figure AI has also explored the possibility of using its system in a home environment, the company is more focused on advancing technological innovation with more powerful partners such as automakers. BMW, for example, announced last year that it had begun deploying Figure robots at a plant in South Carolina, marking another major breakthrough for Figure AI in industrial robotics.

It's worth noting that OpenAI may also be exploring its own humanoid hardware products. Recently, the company filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) concerning humanoid robots, which mentions user-programmable humanoid robots as well as humanoid robots with communication and learning functions to assist and entertain humans. Although the intellectual property application does not directly reflect the quality and market performance of future products, this news undoubtedly intensifies the market's speculation and expectations for OpenAI's layout in the field of humanoid robots.

In this context, Figure AI's massive funding round gave it the financial backing to rapidly expand its hardware and software teams. The company's recent move to a larger office in the Bay Area to accommodate its rapidly growing workforce further demonstrates the company's confidence and determination for the future. In terms of proprietary software development, Figure AI draws on the product development methodology of the Apple ecosystem and is committed to creating software solutions that are highly synergistic with hardware systems. Although this approach is difficult and resource-intensive, Figure AI firmly believes that it is a key way to achieve technological breakthroughs and market leadership.

In addition, while industry collaboration is still common in the field of humanoid robots, Figure AI's decision to independently develop AI technology also reflects the industry's emphasis on technological autonomy and innovation. Boston Dynamics' collaboration with Toyota Research Institute, for example, demonstrates the diversity and complementarity of the industry in advancing humanoid robotics.

Facing the future, Figure AI will continue to uphold the spirit of innovation and focus on the research and development and application of internal AI technology, in order to create a broader development prospect in the humanoid robot market. OpenAI is likely to explore new opportunities in the humanoid hardware market while maintaining its leading position in artificial intelligence. The different choices of the two companies will undoubtedly bring more thinking and inspiration to the entire industry.