The Race For AI Robots Just Got Real (OpenAI, NVIDIA and more)

25 Mar 2024 (6 months ago)

Figure 01: A Humanoid Robot by Figure AI

Figure AI, a tech startup founded in 2022, introduced Figure 01, a humanoid robot capable of holding conversations and responding to external stimuli.
Figure 01's actions and behaviors are learned, not teleoperated, and it uses neural networks to process audio and visual inputs.
The robot's capabilities in natural language processing and computer vision are enhanced through a partnership with OpenAI.
Figure AI aims to address the global labor shortage by deploying autonomous humanoid robots in various industries.

Figure 01 can understand and execute tasks such as picking up trash, placing dishes in a drying rack, and engaging in human-style conversations.
It is designed to replace human workers in warehouses and factories, working for 22 hours a day with periodic battery swaps.
Figure 01's unique feature is its ability to directly converse in natural language to get tasks done.
BMW has already signed an agreement to test the robot at their plant in South Carolina.

The progress of automation, driven by AI and machine learning, has led to job losses in cognitive fields while sparing manual labor jobs.
Goldman Sachs predicts that over 300 million jobs could be affected by AI, as robots become increasingly feasible and affordable to install.
The future of humanoid robots is uncertain, with some believing they will replace humans completely, while others believe they will only alleviate manual tasks.
The military is also likely to be interested in humanoid robots for future use.

Opinions on humanoid robots are divided, with some seeing them as an excellent display of human ingenuity, while others believe they are pointless and a waste of effort.
Highly functional and affordable robots are still a long way from being available to consumers, but the competition in the field is heating up.