Science fiction has promised everything from robot butlers to cyborg policemen, and even made us feel sorry for robots with feelings, like in Spielberg’s classic ‘A.I’.
But the reality of humanoid robots has been less spectacular and they haven’t yet taken over the planet. But could all that be about to change?
American manufacturer Figure is one of the major players in the humanoid robot space, and has just announced big plans that could put something not-quite-human at the desk next to yours, sooner than you think.
Although considering they would literally live at work, the water-cooler small talk might be a bit one-dimensional.
Ambitious Plans
Figure CEO Brett Adcock recently revealed that the company has secured a second major, but as yet unnamed, commercial customer.
The tech boss explained:
Our newest customer is one of the biggest U.S. companies. It gives us potential to ship at high volumes which will drive cost reduction and AI data collection. Between both customers, we believe there is a path to 100,000 robots over the next four years.
Take a look at Figure’s ’02’ model in action below.
Video from Figure
Figure’s journey has been fast and impressive; shipping its first robot just 31 months after incorporating. Not content to rest on its laurels, its ’03’ version is already working in the lab, and is looking even slicker than its older brother the 02.
Robot Wars
While early prototypes moved at just 17% of human speed, the latest Figure 02 is seven times faster, although it’s still cruising at a modest 2.7 mph.
Adcock explains that AI is key to how his robots can learn practical applications so quickly, and carry them out at relative speed:
Last week, we successfully began running an end-to-end neural network on the new client’s use case. Learning the use case with AI is the only path here as heuristics would be impossible to write. And every time I see these policies running, it feels like pure magic
This laser-sharp focus on commercial viability is what has catapulted Figure to the top of the humanoid robot pile.
While competitors like Tesla’s Optimus have made more headlines, Figure has quietly secured major partnerships and demonstrated several practical, real-world applications. These androids are problem-solvers, not catwalk models!
It might not be that way for long though, as the race for humanoid robo-supremacy is becoming increasingly competitive, with both U.S. and Chinese companies like Unitree and Agibot emerging as serious contenders. With eight of the top 16 companies based in China now, the race to develop and deploy humanoid robots has truly become a global endeavour.
Future Impact
The implications for businesses span multiple sectors.
While BMW is already on board as Figure’s first customer, speculation about the second major client points to retail giants like Walmart or Amazon, both of whom are facing serious staffing challenges in their vast logistics operations. Some have posited that Apple could also be the mystery new buyer – the business is desperate to bring some of its manufacturing capacity back to the US, in the face of looming tariffs from the Trump administration.
Healthcare presents another promising frontier.
Companies like UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health could deploy humanoid robots not just for routine tasks like cleaning and supply management, but also for more complex duties like patient mobility assistance and basic care support. The aging population in many developed countries makes this application particularly compelling.
Global Market Dynamics
The economic implications of this robot revolution are staggering.
Market analysts predict the humanoid robot sector could reach $150 billion by 2030; driven largely by manufacturing and healthcare demands. The competition between U.S. and Asian manufacturers is likely to intensify, with Japanese companies like Honda and Kawasaki also entering the fray. This could prove crucial in driving down costs – currently a major barrier to widespread adoption.
According to futurist Peter Diamandis, we might not have to wait long to see these helpers in our daily lives: “I think we’ll see versions available in the house by the end of 2026.”
Whether that prediction proves accurate remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the robot revolution is coming – hold on to your hats!
