Intelligent humanoid robots: Figure AI and OpenAI end collaboration
Figure AI and OpenAI will be going their separate ways in future. OpenAI's AI models are not suitable enough – they have something of their own, says Figure AI.
(Image: Figure AI (Screenshot))
The robotics company Figure AI has surprisingly announced that it is ending its collaboration with the AI company OpenAI. Figure AI boss Brett Adcock made the announcement on X on Tuesday. According to the statement, the company has achieved a major breakthrough in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and wants to focus on its AI in the future.
Adcock does not want to reveal any details about the decision. However, he hints that his company will show something within 30 days “that no one has ever seen in a humanoid before”.
Figure AI and OpenAI originally joined forces to develop AI models for next-generation humanoid robots. They aimed to improve the robots' audiovisual perception and voice output and to improve the Figure-02 robot able to cooperate with humans.
Unsuitable generative AI for humanoid robots
However, a problem arose: the generative AI models provided by OpenAI have too general a focus. They are not very suitable for use in humanoid robots, says Adcock. It would therefore be better to create an integrated system in which hardware and software are developed together by one company.
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This is likely to be a very resource-intensive and expensive process. However, Figure AI has well-known supporters such as Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel, LG, Samsung, and others. In addition, Figure AI generates revenue through the sale of humanoid robots to initial buyers from the industry.
It is now unclear whether OpenAI will continue to support the company as a co-financier. However, it looks as though the two companies will be going their separate ways in the future. OpenAI's own robotics development, which was initially closed in 2020, is now being rebuilt.
(olb)
