Figure drops OpenAI in favor of in-house models

Figure AI, a robotics company developing general-purpose humanoid robots, announced Tuesday that it is terminating its partnership with OpenAI to focus on in-house AI development. The decision follows what the company described as a “major breakthrough” in its AI research.

Founder and CEO Brett Adcock remained tightlipped about specifics but teased a major reveal within the next 30 days, promising “something no one has ever seen on a humanoid.”

The move is unexpected, given OpenAI’s prominence and its longstanding investment in Figure. Last year, the two companies announced a collaboration to develop next-generation AI models for humanoid robots, coinciding with Figure’s $675 million funding round, which valued the company at $2.6 billion. To date, Figure has raised $1.5 billion from investors.

Adcock cited integration challenges as the primary reason for the split. While OpenAI specializes in large-scale intelligence models, its focus isn’t on embodied AI—AI that operates within physical robots. According to Adcock, achieving humanoid robotics at scale requires vertical integration of both AI and hardware.

“We found that to solve embodied AI at scale in the real world, you have to vertically integrate robot AI,” he told TechCrunch. “We can’t outsource AI for the same reason we can’t outsource our hardware.”

OpenAI has diversified its investments in humanoid robotics, including funding the Norwegian startup 1X, which is developing AI-powered robots for home use. While Figure has also explored residential applications, its primary focus remains on industrial deployment. Last year, BMW announced it had begun using Figure robots in its South Carolina factory, underscoring the automaker’s deep investment in robotic automation.

With its pivot to in-house AI, Figure aims to carve out a unique position in the fast-evolving humanoid robotics industry, setting the stage for its upcoming breakthrough reveal.



Source:  TechCrunch