Where Innovation Meets Imagination
Humanoid robotics companies have spent years producing carefully choreographed demonstrations and highly controlled prototypes. The real challenge, however, has always been manufacturing scale.
Building one impressive humanoid robot is difficult. Building hundreds reliably, repeatedly, and economically is something else entirely.
Figure AI now claims to be crossing that threshold. [Read more…] about Figure ramps up humanoid robot manufacturing at unprecedented speed
Figure AI has signed a commercial agreement with Catalyst Brands to deploy humanoid robots across the retailer’s distribution and logistics network.
The partnership will begin at Catalyst Brands’ distribution center in Reno, Nevada, where Figure’s humanoid robots will be used to automate physically demanding supply chain tasks.
Catalyst Brands operates several well-known retail chains, including JCPenney, Aéropostale, and Brooks Brothers. [Read more…] about Figure partners with Catalyst Brands to deploy humanoid robots in logistics operations
First Lady Melania Trump introduced an American-built humanoid robot at the White House this week, marking a rare moment where advanced robotics took center stage in a diplomatic setting.
The demonstration featured Figure 3, a humanoid system developed by Figure AI, and was presented during a global summit attended by representatives from 45 countries.
According to a White House press release, the event formed part of the “Fostering the Future Together” initiative, focused on artificial intelligence, education, and economic development. [Read more…] about Melania Trump presents humanoid robot at White House, highlights role of AI in education and careers
Nvidia is rapidly emerging as the central technology provider to the global robotics industry, with a growing list of partners spanning traditional industrial robot manufacturers, surgical robotics firms, and a new wave of humanoid startups.
In a sweeping set of announcements at its GTC conference, the company revealed that many of the world’s best-known robotics companies – including ABB, Fanuc, Yaskawa and Kuka – are now building on its platforms, alongside newer entrants such as Agility Robotics, Figure AI and 1X.
The breadth of that ecosystem suggests a shift that has been under way for several years: robotics is becoming an AI-driven industry, and Nvidia is positioning itself as the default supplier of the underlying compute, simulation and software infrastructure. [Read more…] about From industrial robot arms to humanoids: Nvidia tightens its grip on the future of robotics
A former safety engineer at Figure AI, Robert Gruendel, has filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit alleging he was dismissed after warning company leadership in September 2025 that its humanoid robots were “powerful enough to fracture a human skull”, according to a report on VnExpress.
According to the suit filed on November 21 in a US federal court in California, internal “impact testing” on the company’s robot model F.02 generated forces reportedly more than double those required to break an adult skull.
As evidence of danger, the complaint cites an incident in which a robot allegedly malfunctioned and left a three-quarter-inch deep gash in a stainless-steel refrigerator door, according to reporting by Futurism. [Read more…] about Former Figure AI engineer claims company’s humanoid robots ‘powerful enough to fracture human skull’
Investment in robotics is projected to reach an all-time high of $21 billion this year, according to F-Prime Capital’s latest State of Robotics 2025 report – a jump fuelled by generative AI, defense spending, and merger-and-acquisition activity.
The report, which tracks venture funding, valuations, and exits across the global robotics sector, highlights a 150 percent increase in funding for so-called “general purpose robotics” – a category covering humanoids and AI-driven machines – rising from $2 billion in 2024 to $5 billion this year.
Defense robotics now accounts for 63 percent of total investment, helped by multi-billion-dollar deals such as Blue Halo’s $4.1 billion acquisition. [Read more…] about F-Prime’s ‘State of Robotics 2025’ report shows record $21 billion investment. But is it another bubble?
Figure AI has released a new video (see below) showcasing its third-generation humanoid robot, the Figure 03, performing a range of everyday tasks that demonstrate just how far the company has come in bridging the gap between research and reality.
In the six-minute video, the robot folds clothes, loads and operates a washing machine, clears dishes from a coffee table, and rinses them before loading a dishwasher.
It’s also shown operating a reception desk, carrying boxes, and even tossing a ball for a dog to chase – a subtle but striking moment that captures how naturally the machine moves within familiar environments. [Read more…] about Video: Figure 03 shows what humanoid robots can really do
Tesla’s latest humanoid demonstration – a kung fu routine performed by its Optimus robot for actor Jared Leto – was clearly designed to impress.
But, as dramatic and as thought-provoking as it was, the spectacle raised an awkward question: what will be the “killer app” for humanoid robots?
“Killer app” is a phrase to mean the defining use case that makes a technology indispensable. In every major technology shift, there’s been a defining use case – a killer app – that turned novelty into necessity. For early personal computers, it was spreadsheets – programs like VisiCalc and later Excel that justified owning a machine running DOS. [Read more…] about Awkward question: What will be the ‘killer app’ for humanoid robots?
Humanoid robotics company Figure has secured more than $1 billion in committed capital through its latest Series C financing round, reaching a post-money valuation of $39 billion.
The company said the funding will accelerate its efforts “to bring general-purpose humanoid robots into real-world environments at scale.”
The round was led by Parkway Venture Capital and included significant participation from Brookfield Asset Management, Nvidia, Macquarie Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, Tamarack Global, LG Technology Ventures, Salesforce, T-Mobile Ventures, and Qualcomm Ventures. [Read more…] about Figure raises over $1 billion in Series C funding at $39 billion valuation
China has opened what is being described as the world’s first dedicated humanoid robot store, called “Robot Mall”, offering customers the chance to browse and buy from more than 40 different brands of androids.
Located in Beijing, the shop is part showroom, part dealership, and part interactive exhibition. Visitors can see robots performing a variety of tasks – from greeting customers and demonstrating language skills, to lifting and carrying objects.
The store’s operators say it marks a milestone in bringing humanoid robotics into everyday life, offering models suited for entertainment, education, customer service, and light industrial work. [Read more…] about China opens world’s first humanoid robot store. Will the Western world follow?
