Figure AI: Future of humanoid robots
Figure AI develops humanoid robots for use in industry and household. The partnership with BMW and the collaboration with OpenAI underline the potential, but also the challenges on the way from prototype to regular operation.
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Introduction
Humanoid robots are machines with human-like stature, designed for environments and tools that are designed for humans. Figure AI develops such systems with the aim of general-purpose deployment ( figure.ai). At its core, Helix runs, a Vision-Language-Action model (VLA) that links vision, language and action planning to autonomously solve tasks in changing environments ( figure.ai/helix). According to Figure, Helix controls the entire loop of perception, movement and reasoning in real time on the machine ( figure.ai/helix). The manufacturer positions the latest generation Figure 03 as a step toward household deployment, including voice recognition and more sensitive hands ( figure.ai/news/introducing-figure-03).
On January 18, 2024, Figure announced a commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing: humanoids were to be evaluated and gradually deployed in production environments ( prnewswire.com). On the same day Reuters reported on the deal and framed it in competition with Tesla's Optimus ( reuters.com). On February 29, 2024 followed a funding round of $675 million at a $2.6 billion valuation, including Microsoft, OpenAI Startup Fund, NVIDIA and Jeff Bezos ( prnewswire.com). In September 2024, BMW Group confirmed successful tests of the Figure 02 model at the Spartanburg plant, with specifications such as approx. 170 cm height and 20 kg payload ( bmwgroup.com). On October 9, 2025, Figure unveiled the third generation Figure 03 for household tasks, focusing on scaling and mass production ( figure.ai/news/introducing-figure-03). However, on October 29, 2025, BMW clarified in a press release: Currently no Figure robots are in operation at Spartanburg; further timeline is open ( press.bmwgroup.com). TIME also noted: Figure 03 is not consumer-ready yet, but shows progress in finger pads, voice interaction and memory functions; at the same time, safety, privacy and labor-market questions remained ( time.com).
Technology and Motivation
Why humanoid? Factories, logistics centers and households are built for humans; a humanoid form can tap into existing tools and processes without rebuilding everything ( reuters.com). Why Helix/VLA? Voice-controlled, generalist robots promise lower integration costs: Instead of programming every task, the system learns from data and instruction language ( figure.ai/helix). Why big partners? Cloud infrastructure, foundation models and capital should shorten development cycles; the OpenAI connection was already mentioned in 2024 in the funding context ( prnewswire.com).
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Media logic: spectacular demos generate virality, but often narrow the view to reproducible performance in shift work; precisely here BMW's current statement provides the necessary grounding ( press.bmwgroup.com; time.com).
Facts and Reality
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The robots from Figure AI are designed to operate in human environments and take on everyday tasks.
Documented: There is a commercial agreement between Figure and BMW from January 2024 ( prnewswire.com; reuters.com). The Series-B financing of $675 million and the collaboration with OpenAI were officially announced on February 29, 2024 ( prnewswire.com). BMW confirmed 2024 tests with Figure 02 at the Spartanburg plant ( bmwgroup.com). Figure unveiled Figure 03 on October 9, 2025 ( figure.ai/news/introducing-figure-03).
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Figure AI robots demonstrate their ability to master complex tasks in human work environments.
Unclear: how durable and enduring the systems are in multi-shift operation. BMW currently states no deployment in Spartanburg and no timetable; this does not imply the technology is failing, but the transition from demo to operation remains open ( press.bmwgroup.com).
False/misleading: 'Figure robots are already operating regularly in Spartanburg' – BMW explicitly contradicts this as of the end of October 2025 ( press.bmwgroup.com). "Figure 03 is a consumer product" – TIME notes that the system is not household-ready yet ( time.com).
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The vision of Figure AI: robots that interact seamlessly with people and assist them in daily life.
Reactions & Counterpoints: BMW communicates calmly: tests yes, but currently no active operation and no schedules ( press.bmwgroup.com). Trade press such as The Robot Report accompanied the 2024 start of the cooperation and referred to early evaluations at the Spartanburg site ( therobotreport.com). TIME reflects on societal implications and safety questions surrounding household deployment ( time.com).
Implications and Outlook
For industry: Set realistic expectations. Proof-of-concepts are possible, but a robust 24/7 operation requires data, security, maintenance and process adaptation ( bmwgroup.com). For product teams: Link evaluation projects early with data access; VLA systems like Helix learn on the fly, but require curated, domain-specific datasets ( figure.ai/helix). For everyone: verify sources, especially for viral demos; prioritize official press releases and primary sources ( prnewswire.com; reuters.com).
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Open questions: How large is the gap between demo videos and stable performance in shift operation? This requires transparent benchmarks, failure statistics and safety reports from real deployments ( press.bmwgroup.com). How quickly can Figure achieve the reliability and certification needed for household use? The manufacturer outlines roadmaps and progress with Helix, but independent evaluations are essential ( figure.ai/news/introducing-figure-03; figure.ai/helix). Which governance models are sensible for occupational safety, data protection and liability before consumer deployments start? TIME notes risks and regulatory gaps here ( time.com).
Conclusion: Figure AI stands for the serious attempt to bring general-purpose humanoids into practice – with capital, partners and a VLA architecture that promises learning rather than scripting ( prnewswire.com; figure.ai/helix). The path to regular operation is longer than viral clips suggest; BMW's current status note is an important reality check for that ( press.bmwgroup.com). Whoever plans today should set up pilot projects data-driven – with clear metrics, safety criteria and reliable sources.