Figure AI—a company focused on developing a general-purpose humanoid robot for both commercial and home settings—announced on X that it is ending its partnership with OpenAI. The Bay Area firm is now shifting its efforts toward developing its own artificial intelligence, following what it calls a “major breakthrough.” In an interview with TechCrunch, founder and CEO Brett Adcock refrained from revealing too many details but promised an unprecedented advancement in humanoid technology within the next 30 days.
Previously, OpenAI, a long-time investor in Figure, collaborated with the company on a project aimed at creating next-generation AI models for humanoid robots. This partnership was part of a broader announcement last year, which coincided with Figure’s successful $675 million funding round that valued the company at $2.6 billion; overall, Figure has raised $1.5 billion.
This move comes as a surprise given OpenAI’s strong cultural presence and the prestige that comes with its name. In fact, back in August, it was announced that the Figure 02 humanoid would incorporate OpenAI models to handle natural language communication.
Adcock explained that the collaboration faced challenges due to integration issues. OpenAI’s vast range of models, while impressive, does not align perfectly with the specific demands of “embodied AI”—the branch of AI designed for physical devices like robots. According to Adcock, the solution lies in developing an end-to-end AI system that is tightly integrated with the hardware, much like how a company would not outsource its physical components.
While OpenAI has diversified its interests in the humanoid sector—also supporting the Norwegian startup 1X, which is turning its focus toward domestic applications—Figure appears to be concentrating on industrial uses. For instance, BMW recently started deploying Figure robots in its South Carolina factory, highlighting a trend where larger corporations have more resources to invest in cutting-edge robotics technology.
Interestingly, OpenAI might also be exploring its own ventures in humanoid robotics, as evidenced by a recent trademark application filed with the USPTO. The application mentions “user-programmable humanoid robots” and “humanoid robots having communication and learning functions for assisting and entertaining people.” While trademark filings don’t necessarily signal upcoming products, these developments are hard to ignore, especially as they come close together in time.
Figure’s robust funding has enabled rapid growth in both its hardware and software divisions, prompting the company to move into a larger Bay Area office to support its expanding team. Although many humanoid robotics companies are developing their own bespoke AI models, partnerships remain common. For example, Boston Dynamics has been working with the Toyota Research Institute to integrate advanced AI into its Atlas humanoid robot.
