At Bloomberg’s recent tech conference, Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock stepped into the spotlight after a long hiatus from public events. If you’ve ever wondered how robotics can truly level up manufacturing, his remarks provided a refreshing insight into the company’s real-world applications.
When pressed about the much-discussed BMW collaboration, Brett steered clear of revealing specifics. Instead, he underlined the practical benefits of deploying robots on the factory floor – emphasizing that tangible, daily performance metrics outweigh any glossy pitch. Earlier, a YouTube video had showcased their robots in action at a BMW facility, offering a glimpse of what’s possible.
Adding another twist, Brett mentioned that Figure AI has also locked in a deal with another major player – later identified by Bloomberg as UPS. Despite the buzz created by polished promotional videos, the company made the deliberate choice to skip live demos at the event, arguing that setting up real-world demonstrations is sometimes more cumbersome than beneficial.
While other companies like Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics seized the opportunity to exhibit their latest innovations, Figure AI stayed true to its approach, preferring to focus on hands-on development rather than event theatrics. “We don’t go to a lot of events. I think it’s a giant waste of time,” Brett explained, pointing to the logistics and effort involved in transporting a team and their robots just for a single appearance.
Looking ahead, Figure AI has ambitious plans to manufacture and deploy around 100,000 robots over the next four years. This comes at a time when the company is also gearing up for a $1.5 billion funding round, propelling its valuation from $2.6 billion earlier in the year to a staggering $39.5 billion. Meanwhile, the company’s active efforts to enforce cease-and-desist orders against unauthorised share brokers highlight its commitment to keeping tight control over its operations.
