Figure

Speaking at MIT, Yann LeCun argued the "big secret" of the humanoid industry is that companies lack the fundamental AI breakthroughs—specifically "world models"—needed to make robots "generally useful" in domestic settings.

Speaking at Dreamforce, Figure CEO Brett Adcock dismissed manufacturing as the primary challenge for humanoids, claiming the race is to solve general intelligence. He projected a timeline that could see his robots performing general tasks in novel environments as soon as next year.

TIME Magazine has recognized two humanoid robots, the ultra-affordable Unitree R1 and the domestically-focused Figure 03, in its annual Best Inventions list, signaling the growing mainstream relevance of bipedal robotics.

A new TIME Magazine cover story provides the first in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at Figure and its new Figure 03 humanoid. The report contrasts the company's grand ambitions for a robot in every home with the current, often clumsy, reality of its capabilities, highlighting the significant data and safety hurdles that remain.

Figure has officially announced its third-generation humanoid, Figure 03. The new model features a complete hardware and software redesign focused on enabling its 'Helix' AI system, improving safety for home environments, and streamlining the robot for high-volume manufacturing.