OpenAI-powered humanoid is 'closest robot to a human being, ever', to challenge Tesla's Optimus

Tech startup Figure has unveiled a new clip showcasing its humanoid robot, Figure 01, engaging in conversation with an engineer while completing household chores like putting away dishes.

The demonstration, following Figure’s partnership announcement with OpenAI, highlights the robot’s ability to engage in “speech-to-speech reasoning,” leaving viewers unsure whether to feel impressed or apprehensive.

In the video, Figure 01 identifies objects on the table, including a red apple, and responds to the human tester’s request for food by effortlessly handing over the apple. When questioned about its choice, the robot explains its decision, complete with a human-like pause in speech, contributing to an uncanny feeling.

With OpenAI, Figure 01 can now have full conversations with people

-OpenAI models provide high-level visual and language intelligence
-Figure neural networks deliver fast, low-level, dexterous robot actions

Everything in this video is a neural network: pic.twitter.com/OJzMjCv443

— Figure (@Figure_robot) March 13, 2024

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Despite the absence of a market-ready product from Figure, the demonstration hints at a potentially dystopian future where interactions with AI-enabled robots blur the lines between assistance and unease, particularly in household tasks like dishwashing.

Figure’s recent partnership with ChatGPT maker, OpenAI, aims to equip its future robots with advanced language understanding capabilities, facilitating accelerated learning. Previous videos showcased Figure 01’s proficiency in operating a coffee machine, walking, and manipulating objects.

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With OpenAI’s collaboration, Figure endeavours to develop “next-generation AI models for humanoid robots,” enabling them to comprehend and reason from language inputs, as outlined in a previous press release. The latest demo suggests significant strides in achieving this ambitious goal.

Meanwhile, competitor Tesla faces scrutiny after a controversial video allegedly depicted its humanoid robot, Optimus, folding a shirt. The incident underscores the catch-up game Tesla must play in the realm of advanced humanoid robotics.

As Figure pushes boundaries in humanoid robot development with the support of OpenAI, the technology landscape continues to evolve, posing both opportunities and challenges for the future of AI-enabled robotics.