(Credit: Figure)
California-based startup Figure today unveiled a new version of its humanoid robot, which incorporates ChatGPT tech and might one day take on dangerous jobs on factory floors.
Figure 02 is a sci-fi-looking robot that adopts a sleeker design over an earlier model, which appeared more like a prototype and featured exposed cabling along the limbs and shoulders.
In contrast, the fully electric Figure 02, at 154 pounds, looks more like a finished product since the entire machine is contained in a refined, gunmetal gray casing. The startup showed off the new model in a 2-minute clip, demonstrating its various functions, including two mechanical hands that can grip and move like human limbs.
The Figure 02 model—which stands at 5 feet, 6 inches—has also been outfitted with six cameras in its head, along with three times more computing power, to help the robot navigate autonomously. The company also increased the robot’s runtime by 50%.
The clip doesn't show any integration with OpenAI. But it does reveal that Figure has been testing the new model at a BMW car factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina; in the video, the 02 model successfully inserts molded sheet metal into car assembly equipment.
(Credit: BMW/Figure)In a statement, BMW said: “With an early test operation, we are now determining possible applications for humanoid robots in production. We want to accompany this technology from development to industrialization... After the first use in automobile production, the experts at the BMW Group and Figure are collaborating to prepare Figure for future applications in production and continuing to develop the robots, based on the findings."
For now, the carmaker is just testing Figure 02. “Currently, there are no Figure AI robots at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, and there is no definite timetable established for bringing Figure robots to the plant,” BMW added.
Still, one of Figure's main goals is to use robots to replace human workers in more dangerous manual jobs. “With the first humanoid by our side in the workforce, we’ll have the ability to create and produce so much more, address drastic labor shortages, and reduce the number of workers in unsafe jobs,” the startup’s website says.
The company debuted the video as it faces competition from Tesla’s Optimus bot and Boston Dynamics' Atlas to develop the first general-purpose humanoid robots.
It's unclear when Figure will launch for commercial customers. But in February, the company raised an additional $675 million from investors, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Intel, valuing the startup at $2.6 billion.