Figure AI Cuts Ties with OpenAI: A Bold Move in the Quest for Humanoid Intelligence
In a surprising turn of events, Figure AI, a U.S.-based startup dedicated to developing AI-powered humanoid robots, has chosen to terminate its collaboration with industry giant OpenAI. This strategic decision was announced by Figure AI’s CEO Brett Adcock, who claimed the company achieved a significant breakthrough in robot intelligence, rendering further partnership with OpenAI unnecessary.
The Rise of Figure AI
Figure AI’s split from OpenAI follows just a few months after both companies revealed their collaboration. At that time, they celebrated a substantial $675 million funding round, which valued Figure AI at $2.6 billion. This funding was intended to accelerate the introduction of their innovative Figure 02 robot, designed to demonstrate advanced capabilities in humanoid robotics.
A Breakthrough in AI Development
Adcock took to social media to share the news of their divorce from OpenAI, stating, “Today, I made the decision to leave our Collaboration Agreement with OpenAI. Figure made a major breakthrough on fully end-to-end robot AI, built entirely in-house.” This announcement marked a significant pivot for Figure AI, which initially had intended to incorporate OpenAI’s models to enhance the natural language processing capabilities of the Figure 02 humanoid robot.
Rethinking Partnerships
In a subsequent update, Adcock elaborated on the reasoning behind this strategic shift. He noted that maintaining a partnership with OpenAI for their large language models (LLMs) became less practical over time. “LLMs are getting smarter yet more commoditized. For us, LLMs have quickly become the smallest piece of the puzzle,” he conveyed, emphasizing that Figure’s homegrown AI models have become central to their operation. He suggested that external AI partnerships could hinder their progress and innovation, stating that they have now become “cumbersome” and “ultimately irrelevant” to Figure’s success.
The Context of AI Evolution
This decision by Figure AI coincides with a broader evolution in the AI sector. OpenAI, too, is reconfiguring its strategy, currently in the process of revamping its robotics team and actively exploring developments in areas such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and humanoid robots. The reshaping of their focus might hint at strategic divergences within the partnership premise in the burgeoning robotics market.
The DeepSeek Effect
Interestingly, some observers suggest that Figure AI’s departure from OpenAI could stem from the so-called DeepSeek effect—an evolving trend urging major AI companies to reduce costs and enhance services in response to rising competition from open-source alternatives. As companies like DeepSeek R1 offer advanced results free of cost, organizations are prompted to reconsider their partnerships and dependencies on established players like OpenAI.
Looking Towards the Future
Figure AI is betting on its proprietary technology for future projects, foregoing reliance on the premium, proprietary offerings of OpenAI. Following their strategic pivot, the company has already made strides with BMW Manufacturing, where Figure AI’s robots are set to be integrated into automotive production lines. Additionally, they have secured a second partnership with an undisclosed major U.S. client, showcasing their expanding commercial footprint.
Production Aspirations
Adcock expressed enthusiasm regarding their potential growth trajectory: “It gives us the potential to ship at high volumes—which will drive cost reduction and AI data collection,” he noted. The company is optimistic about producing 100,000 robots over the next four years with the support of its existing contracts.
Advancements in Embodied AI
Central to Figure AI’s strategy is their technologically advanced data engine that underpins their embodied artificial intelligence systems. This engine enables their robots to learn and adapt in real time through the use of cloud and edge computing solutions, blending capabilities across language, vision, and action—making them versatile and responsive to user interactions.
High-Performance Training
Adcock has underscored the importance of empowering their robots to execute specific tasks rapidly and proficiently. According to him, “Learning the use case with AI is the only path” towards achieving superior performance in robotics.
OpenAI’s Continued Ventures
While Figure AI continues to move forward independently, it’s important to note that OpenAI is still actively engaged in investments with other robotics initiatives, including its support for the Norwegian startup 1X. This suggests that OpenAI remains committed to exploring opportunities in the robotics sphere despite the loss of its partnership with Figure AI.
Promised Revelations Ahead
Brett Adcock has teased an exciting development that Figure AI plans to unveil within the next 30 days. He confidently predicted that what they would unveil would be “something no one has ever seen on a humanoid,” leaving both clients and competitors eagerly awaiting the upcoming announcement.
Conclusion: A New Era for Figure AI
Figure AI’s separation from OpenAI could signify a pivotal moment not only for the startup but also for the future of humanoid robotics. As they embark on this independent journey, the industry watches closely, anticipating innovations that could redefine the landscape of artificial intelligence. This move highlights a growing trend among tech companies to innovate without constraints, fostering a more rapid pace of advancement in robotic technologies. With its commitment to building high-performance, autonomous robots capable of learning and adapting in real-time, Figure AI stands poised to lead the charge into a new era of intelligent humanoids.
