Figure AI Targets 100,000 Humanoid Robots in Four Years, Accelerating Deep Tech Integration

Brett Adcock, CEO of Figure AI, is spearheading an ambitious initiative to scale humanoid robotics, anticipating a fundamental transformation of everyday life and a significant acceleration of deep technology beyond traditional artificial intelligence. As highlighted in a recent conversation with Logan Kilpatrick, Adcock's vision centers on the widespread deployment of general-purpose humanoid robots to address global labor shortages and integrate AI into the physical world. Figure AI aims to ship 100,000 of its advanced humanoid robots within the next four years.

Figure AI, founded by serial entrepreneur Brett Adcock, is developing humanoid robots designed for versatile applications, from industrial tasks to domestic assistance. The company views its robots as the "ultimate deployment vector for AGI," or Artificial General Intelligence, believing that AI needs a physical form to interact meaningfully with the world. This approach is poised to revolutionize various sectors by providing autonomous labor solutions.

The company has rapidly iterated its designs, moving from prototypes like Figure 01 to the more advanced Figure 02, unveiled in August 2024, and the recently designed Figure 03, which is 90% cheaper and smaller. Figure AI has secured substantial funding from major tech entities including OpenAI, Microsoft, Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Intel, underscoring significant investor confidence in its mission. This capital fuels its aggressive development and manufacturing goals.

Figure AI has already initiated commercial deployments, notably with BMW, where its robots are performing tasks in manufacturing facilities. The company also announced a partnership with an unnamed major logistics firm, emphasizing a "workforce first" strategy due to the higher demand and more structured environments compared to homes. Adcock stated, "Between both customers, we believe there is a path to 100,000 robots over the next four years," indicating a clear demand for large-scale automation.

Central to Figure AI's strategy is its proprietary AI model, Helix, a Vision-Language-Action (VLA) neural network that enables robots to learn and perform complex tasks through natural language. Adcock noted that this AI-first approach allows robots to generalize tasks and adapt to new environments without extensive pre-programming. The company is also building a high-volume manufacturing facility, internally known as BOTQ or Baku, designed to produce 12,000 humanoids per year per line, supporting the ambitious deployment targets.

Looking ahead, Figure AI plans to begin alpha testing its robots in home environments this year, despite the inherent complexities and safety challenges of unstructured domestic settings. Adcock envisions a future where humanoid robots become ubiquitous, performing household chores and other tasks, thereby freeing up human time and significantly impacting global productivity. This mass-scale integration of intelligent robots is expected to drive down the cost of goods and services, reshaping economic and societal structures.