Figure AI breaks with OpenAI and promises an unprecedented advance in humanoid robots

Figure AI has raised $1.5 billion in funding and is backed by companies including BMW.

By Isbel Lázaro on February 6, 2025

Robotics company Figure AI has decided to cut ties with OpenAI , ending their collaboration on the development of multimodal models for humanoid robots .

The decision was announced by Brett Adcock, CEO and founder of Figure AI, via his X account, where he stated that the company has made a breakthrough in robot AI completely developed “in-house.” He also said that in the next 30 days they will reveal something that no one has ever seen before in a humanoid.

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

We're excited to show you in the next 30 days something no one has ever seen on a humanoid
— Brett Adcock (@adcock_brett) February 4, 2025

The relationship between Figure AI and Open AI

The collaboration between Figure AI and OpenAI allowed for the integration of advanced models for voice-to-voice reasoning on learned robot behaviors. However, the robotics company has opted to develop its own AI technology , removing its dependence on OpenAI in this field.

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Despite this breakup, the company maintains its collaboration with Microsoft and NVIDIA , two strategic allies in the development of its robots. Microsoft provides computing power for large-scale training, while NVIDIA contributes simulation technology and specialized libraries to improve the learning and inference of robotic systems.

Suspense and high expectations

The announcement has sparked a wave of speculation in the artificial intelligence and robotics industry. Figure AI’s commitment to in-house models reinforces a trend of tech companies seeking full control over their AI developments. This could mean advances in the autonomy of humanoid robots, allowing for more natural interactions and more sophisticated behaviors in real-world environments.

With $1.5 billion in funding and backing from companies like BMW, Figure AI is shaping up to be a key contender in the sector. The anticipation now turns to the next 30 days, when the company will reveal the groundbreaking development that promises to transform the world of humanoid robotics. Until then, watch the humanoid Figure 02 perform at the BMW factory.