Figure AI (USA) - Press Release: According to an article from Executive Digest, the American company Figure AI recently announced that it has signed a contract that could enable the deployment of 100,000 humanoid robots over the next four years. The revelation was made by the company's CEO, Brett Adcock, highlighting the startup's ambition to make humanoid robotics a commercial and residential reality.

According to the publication Interesting Engineering, the name of Figure AI’s new client remains undisclosed. However, Adcock stated that it is "one of the largest companies in the U.S.," leading to speculation about a possible partnership with a major retailer or a tech giant with significant labor needs.

Strategic Partnership and Potential Expansion

The contract announcement was made on the professional social network LinkedIn, where Brett Adcock emphasized the agreement’s importance for the company’s future. “It gives us the potential to deploy robots in large volumes, which will drive cost reduction and AI data collection. Between the two clients, we believe there is a path to 100,000 robots over the next four years,” the CEO stated.

BMW was the first publicly announced client of Figure AI, having signed an agreement at the end of 2023 to incorporate humanoid robots into its operations. However, this new contract could accelerate large-scale adoption of humanoid robotics, opening doors for new applications in industry, logistics, and healthcare.

Commercial and Residential Markets in Focus

Brett Adcock explained that the company is targeting two major markets: commercial and residential. In the commercial sector, Figure AI aims to implement its robots in distribution centers, factories, and other industrial environments, where they can perform repetitive or hazardous tasks for humans. In the residential market, the robots could assist with household chores and take on specialized roles in healthcare and elderly care.

Figure AI has stood out in the robotics sector due to its rapid technological advancements. The company developed its first humanoid robot, Figure 01, in just 31 months. It is now working on Figure 02, with reports indicating that Figure 03 is already in laboratory testing, suggesting continuous improvements in functionality and performance.

Technological Evolution and Competition

Since its debut in January 2024, Figure 01 demonstrated a walking speed equivalent to 17% of the average human pace. With Figure 02, speed has increased sevenfold, reaching 1.2 meters per second (4.31 km/h). While still slightly below the speed of a human walking normally, the company believes upcoming versions will overcome this limitation.

Figure AI faces direct competition from other companies such as Agility Robotics, Tesla (Optimus project), Unitree, Apptronik, Sanctuary AI, and Agibot, all vying for leadership in the emerging humanoid robotics market.

China’s Investment in Humanoid Robotics

While the U.S. accelerates its investments in this sector, China is also heavily investing in humanoid robotics. In December 2024, Zhiyuan Robotics (Agibot) announced that it would produce 1,000 humanoid robots by the end of the year. Additionally, the Chinese government has a strategic plan to integrate humanoid robots into the industry by 2027, promoting large-scale adoption across different sectors.

The possibility of Figure AI delivering 100,000 humanoid robots in the coming years could place it at the forefront of the global industry, making it one of the leading names in commercial and residential robotics. If these plans materialize, this could mark a decisive step in transitioning humanoid robotics from laboratories to everyday life.