There’s a Sudden Obsession with Robots, and Figure AI Isn’t Missing Out

Jeff Cardenas, Founder of ​​Robotics startup, Apptronik in his recent interview said, “My view, my vision for the future is that robots will be human helpers. They’ll help us in all aspects of our life and maybe nowhere more important than as we age and as we grow older.”

Humanoid robots have been the staple of science fiction, but today, they are moving closer to reality as companies pour billions into their development. From Tesla’s Optimus to SoftBank’s new investments and Figure AI’s Bot Q, the push for human-like machines is intensifying. The question is: why now? The answer lies in a mix of technological advancements, labor shortages, and aggressive corporate strategies that see humanoid robots as the next big thing.

The Investment Rush

SoftBank, the Japanese conglomerate known for its bold bets on emerging technologies, is once again making moves in the humanoid space. Having previously developed Pepper, a semi-humanoid robot designed for customer service, SoftBank is now shifting its focus to more advanced humanoids. In February 2024, SoftBank participated in a $675 million funding round for Figure AI, a company at the forefront of humanoid robotics.

SoftBank is reportedly planning to invest $1 trillion to establish AI-equipped factories across the United States. These factories will be located in industrial parks across the country and will be outfitted with robots designed to address labor shortages that American manufacturers are currently grappling with. The reported investment amount exceeds the $500 billion investment SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son had previously announced in January 2024.

In addition to these AI-equipped factories, SoftBank has been heavily investing in U.S. robotics companies. In February 2024, SoftBank led a $500 million investment round in Skild AI, a startup focused on developing general intelligence for robots that can be adapted to various tasks. This follows an earlier $300 million funding round in July 2023. The startup’s goal is to build robots that can assist with labor-intensive tasks and perform hazardous jobs, helping to address workforce shortages and improve safety in high-risk environments.

SoftBank’s plans for these AI-powered factories align with its broader strategy to strengthen its influence in robotics and artificial intelligence. In December 2023, when SoftBank announced it would invest $100 billion in the United States over the next four years, creating at least 100,000 jobs focused on AI and infrastructure development. 

Figure AI’s latest creation, Bot Q, is an advanced humanoid designed for commercial and industrial tasks. Bot Q stands out because of its ability to integrate AI-driven learning with dexterous manipulation, making it more capable than many of its predecessors. The company claims that Bot Q has been tested for warehouse operations, where it can autonomously pick and sort items with a high degree of accuracy. Unlike earlier humanoids, which struggled with real-world applications, Bot Q aims to be a practical solution, not just a research project.

In addition to the funding, Figure AI has entered into a strategic partnership with BMW. The German automaker is exploring the use of Bot Q in its manufacturing plants to assist human workers with assembly tasks. Bot Q has been tested in controlled environments within BMW’s production facilities, where it has been tasked with handling components, managing inventory, and aiding in the production line. 

Why the Sudden Focus on Humanoids?

First, advancements in AI, particularly in reinforcement learning and multimodal neural networks, have made it possible for robots to process and adapt to their environments in real time. Second, global labor shortages, particularly in logistics and manufacturing, are pushing companies to look for alternatives. Countries like Japan, which faces a declining workforce, see humanoid robots as a potential solution to their demographic challenges.

Third, the infrastructure for mass production of humanoids is becoming more feasible. In the past, humanoid robots were costly and slow to manufacture. However, with improvements in battery technology, sensors, and lightweight materials, companies are now able to build them at a lower cost and scale production faster.

One of the key advancements behind Figure AI’s humanoid robots, like Bot Q, is the ability to move with human-like precision, a crucial aspect for real-world applications. In their simulations, thousands of virtual Figure 02 robots are exposed to various physical scenarios, from different terrains to dynamic shifts in actuator performance. This enables a single neural network policy to learn how to handle all of these variables. The goal isn’t just functional walking but replicating the nuanced, human-like gait including heel-strikes, toe-offs, and synchronized arm movements. By integrating human walking reference trajectories into the learning framework, Figure AI ensures its robots can adapt to real-world conditions. This RL-driven process allows for “zero-shot” transfer from simulation to actual robots, meaning the robots can seamlessly translate their learned behavior from the digital world to physical reality, with minimal fine-tuning required.

Figure AI’s Bot Q

Bot Q represents one of the most advanced humanoids to date. Figure AI has claimed that its robot is capable of performing real-world tasks that previous generations of humanoids struggled with. This includes picking and placing objects, handling delicate items, and even adapting to new environments without constant reprogramming.

One key aspect of Bot Q is its AI-driven learning system. Unlike traditional industrial robots that rely on predefined instructions, Bot Q can learn from its mistakes and improve over time. This is crucial for deployment in environments where human workers interact with robots. Its dexterous hands and fine motor skills enable it to handle complex objects, making it particularly suitable for precision-based tasks like those required in manufacturing and logistics.

Figure AI’s partnership with BMW has already seen initial testing of Bot Q in production settings. Reports suggest that the humanoid has been deployed in controlled environments where it performs repetitive but intricate tasks such as sorting parts and assisting in assembly. The collaboration with BMW is one of the first large-scale implementations of humanoid robotics in industrial settings, demonstrating that major manufacturers are willing to integrate humanoid robots into their workflows.

Despite the challenges, companies are betting that humanoids will eventually become an integral part of the workforce. The applications are vast: warehouse automation, elderly care, hospitality, and even disaster response. If Figure AI and its investors, including SoftBank, can overcome the technical and economic hurdles, humanoids may transition from being a futuristic concept to an everyday reality.

Whether Bot Q becomes a breakthrough or another overhyped experiment, the investments being made suggest that humanoids are here to stay. But as Brett Adcock, the CEO of Figure AI, wisely put it, “Remember, as more humanoid robots enter the real world, the cheaper + more intelligent they become.”