Figure exits its collaboration agreement with OpenAI to focus on in-house AI

Figure/Helix

CEO Brett Adcock announced Figure was leaving its collaboration agreement with OpenAI, citing a breakthrough in fully end-to-end robot AI built in-house. Adcock said LLMs had become a small part of the puzzle and vertically integrated in-house AI is essential for scale.

• Figure achieved breakthrough in fully end-to-end in-house robot AI development.
• Adcock stated: 'LLMs have quickly become the smallest piece of the puzzle' for humanoid robots.
• Vertical integration of AI into robots is necessary; external partnerships become irrelevant at scale.
• Partnership with OpenAI began in February 2024 alongside Figure's Series B funding.