We all know ChatGPT and its new edition of version 4o, but OpenAI has worked beyond this, and recently partnered with Figure AI to expand the world of robotics. Figure AI is also funded by Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Microsoft, which all helped to create the initial prototype Figure 01, a life-size humanoid robot. According to Figure, it stands at almost 170cm, and the 60kg electric humanoid has five hours worth of runtime and moves very similarly to a human. Figure AI was founded in 2022 by Brett Adcock, and Figure 01 was developed in just over 12 months. 01 took its first public steps in late 2023, after initially raising $70 million to help commercialise AI and other autonomous operations.
The prototype gained traction when clips from 01’s status update on YouTube spread on TikTok and Instagram. The video entails a Figure staff member speaking to 01, and it replying with varying tone and even pauses and ‘Um’s. It also showcased its physical abilities, by placing trash into a box and putting away dishes. This status update demonstrates Figure and OpenAI’s collaboration in creating a robot that effectively communicates using speech-to-speech technology. The particularly significant aspect of this creation is that this is only the very first prototype, which is already at a very advanced level.
‘Robots taking over the world’ is a fate that has arisen with the recent advancements in robotics, but Figure claims that the purpose of its machines is to “revolutionise the labour economy”. Looking into the future, Figure hopes to eventually develop a robot that will reduce high-risk job placements and help support and care for the elderly. They note that currently, “There are over 10 million unsafe or undesirable jobs in the U.S. alone, and an ageing population will only make it increasingly difficult for companies to scale their workforces.” Figure AI’s mission therefore is to improve the quality of life for any people in unpleasant living or working conditions. However, this undeniably raises concerns about what the limit for this development is, and if it may be considered unethical or dangerous.
Figure 01 is therefore the first step of a long journey in which we will undoubtedly see further improvements and advancements in. The world of AI is ever changing, and with various new chatbots and AI language models, we can expect it to follow us into the future.
