Jeff Bezos, Nvidia Corp., and Microsoft Corp. are making a significant investment in the humanoid robot startup, Figure AI Inc. The company is raising approximately $675 million in a funding round that values it at around $2 billion before the investment, as reported by Bloomberg.
Figure AI is developing a robot, Figure 01, that closely resembles and moves like a human. The company aims to use its technology to perform hazardous tasks unsuitable for humans and to address labor shortages in various industries.
In this funding round, Jeff Bezos’ firm Explore Investments LLC has committed $100 million, while Microsoft is investing $95 million. Nvidia and an Amazon.com Inc.-affiliated fund are each providing $50 million. Other tech companies, including Intel Corp.’s venture capital arm and LG Innotek, are also investing in Figure AI.
The investment in Figure AI by major tech companies underscores the growing interest and potential in the field of humanoid robots. Tesla Inc., for example, has been developing its own humanoid robot, Optimus, which can handle delicate objects and perform tasks such as folding shirts.
Figure AI’s humanoid robot, Figure 01, has demonstrated impressive capabilities, such as making coffee. The development of such advanced robots comes amid a broader trend in the tech industry of creating humanoid robots capable of performing a variety of tasks.
Overall, the investment in Figure AI by prominent tech giants highlights the potential for humanoid robots to revolutionize various industries and tasks. It will be interesting to see how this technology continues to evolve and impact the future of work and automation.
