The story
Figure AI, Inc. was founded in 2022 by Brett Adcock, a serial entrepreneur also known for establishing Archer Aviation, Vettery, and Hark. Adcock launched the company with a clear vision: to develop advanced humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence capable of performing manual labor.
The company’s inaugural product, the Figure 01 prototype, was introduced in its founding year. This bipedal robot was specifically engineered to address labor needs in the logistics and warehousing sectors. Initially, Figure 01 featured external cabling to simplify maintenance, laying the groundwork for more sophisticated iterations. This early breakthrough positioned Figure AI as a significant player in the burgeoning field of AI-driven robotics.
Following its promising debut, Figure AI quickly attracted substantial investment. By May 2023, the company had secured $70 million in funding, with Adcock personally contributing $20 million. This capital infusion propelled further research and development, solidifying the company's path toward commercializing humanoid robots for industrial applications.
Challenges along the way
Figure AI navigated several challenges, including a significant legal hurdle in November 2025 when its former head of product safety sued the company. The lawsuit alleged wrongful termination after the employee raised concerns that the robots were strong enough to fracture a human skull, highlighting the critical safety considerations in developing powerful humanoid machines. Additionally, in April 2025, the company had to issue cease-and-desist letters to brokers promoting its private stock without authorization, indicating issues with unauthorized stock trading and control over its rapidly increasing valuation.
Major milestones
- 2022Figure AI was founded by Brett Adcock and introduced its prototype, Figure 01.
- 2022United States PatentFig. 26Humanoid robot filingsAssignee searchRead filing ↗
- 2023Figure AI raised $70 million in funding from investors.
- 2024Announced partnership with BMW to deploy robots in automotive manufacturing and secured $675 million in venture capital funding.
- 2025Introduced BotQ, a manufacturing facility aiming to produce 12,000 humanoids annually, and Helix, a VLA model controlling multiple robots. Raised over $1 billion in Series C funding, valuing the company at $39 billion.
- 2025Introduced Figure 03, featuring hardware and software redesign for enhanced learning and safety.
- 2026Released Helix 02 for full-body autonomy and demonstrated robots performing household tasks; a Figure 03 appeared at a White House event.
Prototypes & people
