Figure shifts to in‑house models, phasing out OpenAI support
Figure AI Breaks Up With OpenAI
Figure AI, the startup dreaming of a friendly, full‑bodied humanoid robot for both the office and your living room, just called off its partnership with OpenAI. The tech scene is buzzing because the duo had been working on the next wave of AI for robots—until now.
Why the Split?
- “Major breakthrough” – Brett Adcock, the founder and CEO, hinted that a new in‑house AI solution has been cooked up and is ready for action.
- Integration headache – Adcock said, “Big companies like OpenAI are great, but they’re not built for the niche of embodied AI.”
- Vertical integration champion – “We need an end‑to‑end AI that’s engineered to the exact needs of our hardware,” he added.
What’s Next?
Adcock promises to unveil “something no one has ever seen on a humanoid” within the next 30 days. That’s a bold statement in a field where the usual announcements lag behind.
Past Partnership and Funding
In 2023, Figure AI and OpenAI inked a collaboration to develop next‑generation AI models for humanoid robots. On top of that, Figure grabbed a $675 million round that valued it at $2.6 billion. To date, the company has been looking at $1.5 billion pulled in from investors.
Why This Move is a Surprise
OpenAI’s name alone adds a turbo boost to a company’s public image. Until recently, the two firms announced that Figure’s “02” robot would use OpenAI’s language models to chat—creating anticipation for home robots that could actually talk to you.
OpenAI’s Humanoid Footprint
OpenAI isn’t just about ChatGPT. It’s also backed 1X, a Norwegian startup aiming to punch a hole in domestic robotics. While many humanoid firms focus on factories and warehouses, 1X is glad to sprinkle some tech into home kitchens.
What Figure Is Focusing On
Figure’s big play remains in the manufacturing world. For instance, BMW has already begun deploying these robots at a South Carolina plant. “Automakers have deeper pockets for experimenting with new tech,” Adcock told TechCrunch.
In short, Figure AI is cutting loose from OpenAI and pushing to build an AI that’s wheel‑to‑whisk, whole‑picture—ready to surprise us in ways that make a robot feel less like a gadget and more like a handy companion.
Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda
Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise.
Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda
Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.
OpenAI’s New Footprints: A Humanoid Bet
San Francisco, 27‑29 October 2025
— What if your favorite AI model could walk, talk, and maybe even dance? OpenAI is giving that idea a runway.
Trademark Trumpet
Last Friday, the company filed a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that sounds straight out of a sci‑fi action movie:
- “User‑programmable humanoid robots” – Think of a robot that’s ready for your custom lesson plans.
- “Humanoid robots having communication and learning functions for assisting and entertaining people” – Picture a friendly assistant that can also crack a joke.
While patents don’t guarantee a launch line, the fact that two separate filings appeared in the same week is hard to miss.
Funding Feats
Figure’s recent financing haul has let them stretch a lot more than just their code. The team just moved into a bigger Bay Area office so that grown‑ups with gray‑area skills don’t have to crowd around single desks.
Apple‑Style Spears for Software
OpenAI is taking a lesson from Apple’s playbook: build software that feels at home inside hardware. It’s a risky business (think design + biology), but the payoff could be a user experience that feels as sleek as an iPhone.
Humanoid Hustles in the Industry
Most companies are busy hauling around their own AI customization, yet some still team up. A recent shout‑out from Boston Dynamics flagged their partnership with Toyota Research Institute to give the Atlas robot a brain.
Where to Next?
“That’s the next chapter,” commented an OpenAI spokesperson—though they left it up to us to guess if it’s an app or an actual robot.
We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the first demo: likely somewhere between the lines of a chatbot for humans and a Tesla autopilot for future kids’ playrooms.
