Humanoid Robot Startup : Leading technology giants including Jeff Bezos, NVIDIA Corporation, Microsoft, and others are funneling funds into the development of human-like robots (Humanoid Robot Startup), marking a significant push to explore fresh applications for artificial intelligence (AI). The startup at the forefront of this endeavor, Figure AI Inc, is currently in the process of securing approximately $675 million in a funding round, with a pre-money valuation estimated at around $2 billion.
Tech Players Invest Heavily in Humanoid Robot Startup
Jeff Bezos, through Explore Investments LLC, is committing $100 million, Microsoft is investing $95 million, and both NVIDIA and an Amazon-affiliated fund are contributing $50 million each. This substantial financial backing underscores the growing importance of robots as a pivotal frontier for the AI industry, enabling the application of cutting-edge technology to real-world tasks. Figure AI Inc, supported by OpenAI and Microsoft Corp, aims to develop a humanoid robot named Figure 01 capable of executing hazardous jobs unsuitable for humans, addressing labor shortages in the process.
Other significant contributors to the funding round include Intel Corp’s venture capital arm with a $25 million investment, LG Innotek providing $8.5 million, and Samsung’s investment group committing $5 million. Venture firms such as Parkway Venture Capital and Align Ventures are also actively participating, injecting $100 million and $90 million, respectively. Additionally, ARK Venture Fund, Aliya Capital Partners, and various others are contributing varying amounts to the funding, totaling a substantial increase from the initial $500 million Figure AI Inc sought.
While representatives for Figure and its investors have refrained from commenting, sources anticipate the formalization of agreements and the wiring of funds to Figure AI on Monday. It’s worth noting that the $2 billion valuation (Humanoid Robot Startup) is pre-money, not factoring in the capital being raised. This recent development reflects the industry’s keen interest in advancing AI capabilities through humanoid robotics, with Figure AI Inc positioned at the forefront of this groundbreaking pursuit.
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