Meet Figure AI: The company behind the humanoid robot hosted by Melania Trump

The White House welcomed its inaugural humanoid robot guest during a significant event on Wednesday, featuring first lady Melania Trump alongside the innovative Figure 3, developed by the robotics startup Figure AI. This milestone occurred on the second day of the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit, an assembly dedicated to the intersection of technology and children's education. Figure 3 captivated attendees by interacting in multiple languages and introducing itself as 'a humanoid built in the United States of America,' as seen in widely shared footage. The event marked a major showcase for humanoid robotics in the U.S., underscoring the increasing focus on such technologies amid growing global competition, particularly from initiatives in Beijing. Melania Trump used the occasion to advocate for the integration of artificial intelligence in educational settings, proposing that robots could eventually serve as engaging educators at home. However, Figure AI emphasizes that its third-generation humanoids have versatile applications beyond education, including commercial and household tasks. This high-profile exposure is poised to elevate the brand of Figure AI, which, despite being lesser-known compared to established players like Tesla's Optimus and Boston Dynamics, boasts a team with experience from those companies and tech giants such as Apple. Founded in 2022 by tech entrepreneur Brett Adcock, who previously co-founded the publicly traded drone firm Archer Aviation, Figure AI is backed by a robust in-house Helix AI system. This system enables its robots to learn through observation and verbal commands. In September, Figure AI secured over $1 billion in its Series C funding round, led by Parkway Venture Capital, with contributions from prominent investors like Nvidia, Intel Capital, Qualcomm Ventures, and Salesforce, resulting in a post-money valuation of $39 billion. This financial boost is expected to facilitate the company's ambitious plans to deploy thousands of robots in residential and logistics settings in the near future, a goal further bolstered by the endorsement from the White House. Figure AI has already initiated collaboration with its first commercial partner, BMW, deploying robots for tasks such as handling sheet metal in manufacturing facilities. Additionally, Melania Trump's endorsement may prompt a reevaluation of a legal dispute surrounding the company. Last year, Figure AI faced a lawsuit from its former head of product safety, who claimed he was terminated for raising concerns about the safety of the robots, alleging they could generate enough force to pose serious risks. The ongoing lawsuit has drawn attention to the need for safety standards in humanoid robotics. While Figure AI maintains that the allegations are unfounded and that the former employee was dismissed for performance issues, the case is still pending and highlights critical questions about the safety of emerging technologies. Interestingly, this isn't the first time Adcock's ventures have garnered attention from the Trump administration; his drone company, Archer Aviation, experienced a surge in stock value following an executive order aimed at promoting the safe integration of electric air taxis in urban areas. Although Adcock stepped back from an active role at Archer in 2022, he continues to hold shares in the company.