Summary:
Figure AI partnered with BMW, signaling a promising future in humanoid robotics.
Brett Adcock's claims about a fleet of robots performing end-to-end operations are contradicted by BMW's reports of limited operations.
Figure AI has raised over $700 million from major investors, including Microsoft and Nvidia.
Only a single robot is currently operational at BMW's factory during production hours, performing basic tasks.
The partnership raises important questions about the credibility of claims made in the robotics industry.
When Figure AI, a high-profile humanoid robot startup, announced a commercial agreement with BMW early last year, it signaled to venture investors and the robotics industry that this young company was a major player to watch in the cutting-edge sector.
Recent comments by Figure founder and CEO Brett Adcock and videos from the company suggested a new era of robo-manufacturing was upon us. However, a closer look reveals a more modest reality than some of Adcock’s past statements implied. Reports indicate that Figure’s humanoid workforce may be more hype than reality, raising questions about the sincerity of Adcock’s claims.
Until March, a Figure robot at BMW’s South Carolina factory was only operational during off-hours, practicing the limited task of picking up and placing parts in the body shop. Despite Adcock's claims in February that a “fleet” of robots was performing “end-to-end operations,” only a single robot was working at any time. BMW declined to comment on the discrepancies between Adcock's statements and the actual situation, and requests for clarification from Adcock's team went unanswered.
As humanoid robots gain attention, Figure's partnership with BMW stood out as one of the first real deployments in the U.S. The company has raised over $700 million since its founding in 2022, attracting investments from Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel Capital, and Jeff Bezos. In February, reports indicated Figure was seeking an additional $1.5 billion at a valuation nearing $40 billion.
Figure’s humanoids are visually appealing, featuring a sleek design with advanced capabilities, including six cameras and on-board AI. However, the reality of their operations at BMW seems limited. While Adcock has boasted about a fleet of robots, BMW clarified that only one robot was actively engaged in tasks during production hours, and this involved basic operations such as loading parts for welding.
In a recent LinkedIn post, Adcock claimed that the humanoids are actively running in BMW's largest plant, but it remains unclear if the robots were indeed performing production work as he described. A new video posted by Adcock showcased the Figure robot in action, performing tasks that align with BMW's description, but it raised further questions about the scale and effectiveness of the operations.
The partnership is real, and BMW plans to share more details during an onsite press event in May. However, the discrepancies in the portrayal of the deal highlight the ongoing challenges in the humanoid robotics industry, which must prove its value beyond glossy demos and founder-driven hype. Trust remains crucial in this emerging field.
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