Figure AI, a robotics firm dedicated to developing a general-purpose humanoid robot for both commercial and residential applications, announced on Tuesday via X that it is terminating its partnership with OpenAI. The Bay Area-based company has chosen to prioritize its in-house AI development following a significant breakthrough. In a subsequent interview with TechCrunch, founder and CEO Brett Adcock remained vague about the details but teased that they would unveil “something unprecedented in humanoid technology” within the next 30 days.
OpenAI has been a long-standing investor in Figure. The two organizations had previously formed a collaboration last year aimed at creating advanced AI models tailored for humanoid robots. Concurrently, Figure secured $675 million in funding, bringing its valuation to $2.6 billion. To date, Figure has raised a total of $1.5 billion from investors.
This news comes as a surprise, especially considering OpenAI’s influential presence in the tech landscape; being associated with the company often enhances visibility. In August, both companies had announced that their Figure 02 humanoid would utilize OpenAI models for natural language processing.
According to Adcock, the challenge with the collaboration lies in integration. OpenAI is a large entity with a wide array of capabilities—and corresponding intelligence models. However, Embodied AI, which integrates AI into tangible objects like robots, isn’t the primary focus for the creators of ChatGPT. Instead, Adcock argues that creating a comprehensive AI model is essential for driving specific hardware.
“To effectively implement embodied AI at scale in real-world applications, we need to integrate robot AI vertically,” Adcock stated in his conversation with TechCrunch. “We cannot delegate our AI needs, just as we can’t outsource our hardware.”
OpenAI has also maintained a cautious stance in the humanoid sector. The organization is a key financial supporter of the Norwegian robotics startup 1X. While many humanoid robotics companies are concentrating on industrial applications, 1X is pivoting its attention toward home environments. During a visit to Figure’s Sunnyvale facility last September, Adcock mentioned that they are also investigating potential home-based applications for their systems.
However, serving the household sector is not currently Figure’s main focus. After all, automobile manufacturers have significantly larger budgets compared to individual consumers for new technology investments. BMW previously disclosed plans to deploy Figure robots in a factory in South Carolina.
OpenAI may be considering its own humanoid hardware. Recently, the company submitted a trademark application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) related to humanoids. The application includes references to both “user-programmable humanoid robots” and “humanoid robots equipped with communication and learning capabilities for providing assistance and entertainment.”
While intellectual property filings do not guarantee the launch of new products, the proximity of these developments within a week raises eyebrows. Meanwhile, Figure’s substantial funding rounds have enabled rapid expansion of its hardware and software teams. The company has recently relocated to a larger office in the Bay Area to accommodate its increasing workforce.
In terms of proprietary software, the Apple ecosystem approach to product development stands out for its effectiveness in creating software that integrates seamlessly with hardware. However, this method is resource-intensive and poses significant challenges.
Most humanoid robotics firms are developing their own tailored AI models to varying degrees, although partnerships remain common in the sector. In October, Boston Dynamics revealed its collaboration with Toyota Research Institute to enhance the Atlas humanoid robot with artificial intelligence.
TechCrunch has reached out to OpenAI for further comment.
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