The Internet can’t stop watching Figure AI’s humanoid robots handling packages

Figure AI, a burgeoning robotics startup, has taken the internet by storm with its livestream showcasing humanoid robots efficiently sorting thousands of packages onto a conveyor belt over the past week. This captivating demonstration even included a head-to-head challenge between a robot and a human intern, further fueling its viral appeal among technology fans. The event has prompted viewers on platforms like YouTube to enthusiastically name the robots, while Figure AI quickly capitalizes on the hype by introducing related merchandise. Comments on X have hailed the livestream as a groundbreaking product demonstration, with some users comparing it to iconic moments in tech history. The livestream began on May 13 as part of an ambitious eight-hour demonstration of the company's latest Figure 03 robots. The task involved the robots autonomously inspecting barcodes on various packages—including both cardboard boxes and padded envelopes—before placing them on a conveyor belt with barcodes facing downward. According to Figure AI's CEO, Brett Adcock, the robots were designed to operate without any human assistance. However, Adcock tempered expectations by acknowledging the challenges ahead, noting that the team aimed for the robots to function continuously for eight hours, a significant increase from a previous demonstration that lasted just one hour. He candidly remarked on X about the potential for failures, stating, "High odds something breaks." The robots utilize Figure AI’s Helix 02 neural network, which is designed to provide comprehensive control and long-term autonomy for various tasks. The company claims that the robots' whole-body controller has been trained on over 1,000 hours of human movement data and has undergone simulations across more than 200,000 parallel environments, showcasing the extensive preparation behind this ambitious demonstration.