Down Angle Symbol A symbol in the form of an angle pointing downwards. Robot shakes hands. Andrey Popov/Getty Images
- Figure AI is raising millions from investors like Jeff Bezos and Microsoft for its humanoid robots.
- The startup's robot, Figure 01, will perform dangerous warehouse work amid labor shortages.
- Notable supporters include OpenAI, Nvidia and Intel Corp.
A startup that wants to house humanoid robots in warehouses around the world has an increasingly elite group of big-name backers with deep financial resources.
Figure AI Inc. is raising about $675 million in funding with the help of investors including Jeff Bezos and Microsoft Corporation, according to a Bloomberg report Friday citing people familiar with the situation.
The artificial intelligence startup aims to create autonomous humanoid workers that can fill labor shortages amid a shrinking workforce, the company's website says.
According to the company, the machine, named Figure 01, is an AI-powered, self-contained robot with the ability to safely think, learn and interact alongside humans. The robots are tasked with carrying out dangerous warehouse work for which there are not enough workers.
Other big backers include OpenAI, which Bloomberg reported was once considering acquiring Figure, and Nvidia Corp., which just this week reported $22.1 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, according to both analysts as well as the AI industry astonished.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has committed $100 million to Figure's mission through his company Explore Investments, LLC, Bloomberg reported, and Microsoft is investing $95 million.
Nvidia and an Amazon.com-affiliated fund have both committed $50 million, and Intel Corp.'s investment arm. donates $25 million, according to the outlet; OpenAI has pledged $5 million.
Bloomberg reported that the figure was worth about $2 billion before deposits.
News of Figure's funding comes amid an AI boom as several companies, including Tesla, are working on their own robots.