Figure AI Inc, a startup that's developing a human-looking robot, announced this week that its technology has literally taken a step in the right direction and that it's landed fresh capital.
In May, just shy of Figure's first anniversary, its robot, dubbed Figure 01, took its first steps, the Sunnyvale company said Monday. The startup also announced that it's raised $9 million from Intel Capital.
"Intel Capital is at the forefront of making big, bold frontier bets, and we are excited to share the same vision of a better future," Brett Adcock, Figure's founder and CEO, said in a news release.
Figure representatives did not respond to a request for comment.
While there are millions of robots in use today, most of them are designed for particular uses, such as installing certain parts on cars or vacuuming floors. By contrast, Figure is aiming to build a general purpose robot, one that can handle many of the physical tasks that people do today. The company foresees its bots, including the 01, replacing humans for dangerous or unwanted jobs and making up for a dearth of workers as the population ages, according to its website.
Figure initially plans to focus on developing its robot for industrial warehouse applications, according to TechCrunch.
The startup's aims shaped the 01's design. The robot is humanoid, with two arms, two legs and two hands and a screen for a face.
"With one product we can meet the complex human environment with human-like capabilities, and provide endless types of support across a variety of circumstances," the company said on its website.
Adcock, who co-founded San Jose air taxi company Archer Aviation Inc., boostrapped Figure with $100 million in funding to get it off the ground. In addition to that sum, the startup has raised $79 million in venture funding, most of that through a Series A round last month. Parkway Venture Capital led that round, with Aliya Capital, Bold Ventures, Tamarack Global, FJ Labs and KUKA Robotics CEO Till Reuter also investing in it.
"Intel Capital is constantly searching for companies that push the boundaries of innovation, and we believe that Figure has the potential to shift the way the world thinks about artificial intelligence," Intel Capital managing director Mark Lydon said in the news release. "Figure's focus on enhancing the labor economy is an essential part of our future, and we look forward to being at the forefront to support humanoid development."
The startup plans to use its new funds from Intel Capital to continue developing the 01 and explore commercialization options, it said in its news release.
Figure isn't the only company working toward creating a general-purpose humanoid robot. Apptronik Inc and Halodi Robotics AS, better known as 1X, are working on like products. But similar efforts go back decades and include Sony's Asimo project, as well as profjects from Tesla Inc., San Jose startup Anybots Inc. and defunct Menlo Park startup Willow Garage.
