Robotics Special: Figure AI hits $39B valuation

Welcome back, Superhuman. Tesla’s biggest challenger in the robotics space has raised a massive war chest; OpenAI is eyeing another robotics push; and a furry robot companion is making its way to the US. It’s been another big week in robotics.

WHAT’S NEXT

The most important news and breakthroughs in robotics this week

1. Figure AI hits $39B valuation: The San Jose-based robotics startup has reportedly picked up over $1B in a Series C funding round, with backing from industry heavyweights like Nvidia, Intel Capital, and Brookfield Asset Management. With total funding hitting $2B since it launched in 2022, Figure plans to use the cash to scale its fleet of humanoid robots that are designed for warehouses and factories, in addition to building the infrastructure needed for advanced robot training.

2. OpenAI is reportedly getting back in the robot game: After shutting down its robotics division in 2021 to focus on language models, a new report by Wired claims that the ChatGPT maker has been quietly recruiting robotics researchers and posting jobs for teleoperation training — a sign that the company is exploring a possible robotics effort. Work on algorithms that can go beyond text generation to interact with the real world has been gaining momentum in recent months.

3. A new robotic factory can democratize manufacturing for small businesses: San Francisco-based MicroFactory has built a transparent, tabletop robot system that can learn complex manufacturing tasks simply by watching humans carry out the process. Instead of weeks of programming, users can train the robots in just a couple of hours by physically guiding the arms through motions, making precision manufacturing accessible to small businesses that can't afford massive automation systems.

PRESENTED BY IBM

Agentic AI Helps Leaders Accelerate Transformation

According to IBM’s 2025 COO study, many responding organizations are exploring how agentic AI can extend automation and support new operating models focused on greater efficiency, adaptability, and innovation by:

• Positioning operations as a driver of data-driven insights and innovation.

• Supporting teams in adopting and coordinating AI agents effectively.

• Building more adaptive workflows that can evolve in real time.

Read the report.

ROBOTS IN ACTION

How robots are transforming the world around us

🌊 Cleanup Crew: German researchers have unleashed an underwater robot with a giant four-fingered hand that can collect ocean trash weighing up to 551 pounds from the seabed. The autonomous diving system uses cameras and sonar to make its way around murky waters, and could potentially offer a scalable solution to tackle the massive marine pollution crisis.

🛎️ Room Service: A Las Vegas hotel has unveiled Oto, a multilingual humanoid robot serving as "chief vibes officer" at what’s being dubbed the world's first AI-powered hotel. The robot can handle check-ins, crack jokes, speak over 50 languages, and even deliver room service while remembering guest preferences. You can see Oto in action here.

💣️ Bomb Squad: The UK has deployed the "world's most capable" bomb disposal robots that can climb stairs, fit in a standard truck, and give EOD teams near-human dexterity when defusing explosives from a safe distance. With 50 units rolling out as part of a $43M program, the robots could potentially revolutionize how we handle explosive threats while keeping both military personnel and civilians out of harm's way.

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

Everything else you need to know this week

Here are the biggest developments in the robotics space that you should know about:

• Waymo has gotten the green light to test and eventually operate its robotaxi service at San Francisco International Airport in a three-phase rollout.

• Agibot's Lingxi X2 humanoid robot became the world's first robot to nail a Webster flip, considered one of the most challenging moves in gymnastics.

• Texas A&M students have unveiled a foldable drone that fits in a pocket and can automatically unfold and stabilize itself mid-air after being hand-launched.

• Fourier Robotics, a Chinese robotics company, just unveiled the 'world’s cutest' humanoid robot designed to display empathy while performing household tasks.

• Dyna Robotics picked up $120M in funding from Nvidia, Amazon, and other tech giants to scale general-purpose commercial robots.

PRESENTED BY GLEAN

Don’t miss it: The future of AI agents (and how you can take advantage)

Today’s AI agents are great for enhancing workflows, but what if they could go beyond simple automations to think and act like you do? Welcome to Glean LIVE ‘25.

In this live session on 9/25 9:30 AM PT, Glean will unveil the next generation of AI Assistant and agents that actually understand your business, team, and goals—just like you.

• How to vibe code futuristic AI agents for your business

• Live chats with eBay CIO John Feldmeier, Glean CEO Arvind Jain, and more

• Product demos from the engineers who built them

• Performance results from real workflows (accuracy, impact, etc.)

• Expert AMAs

Hurry, save your spot here.

ROBOT OF THE WEEK

A robot that caught our eye this week

After becoming a hit in Japan, Casio's furry stress-relief robot Moflin is hopping across the Pacific and making its way into the US, with preorders now live for $429 ahead of its October 1st launch. The oversized hamster-like bot develops a unique AI-powered personality based on how you pet and interact with it.

You can check it out here.

ROBO REEL

Watch: Humanoid robot endures beatdown and emerges victorious in "insane violence test"

If the robots ever stage an uprising, this is probably going to be their origin story.

China's Unitree G1 humanoid robot just passed the ultimate durability test by withstanding nine brutal kicks while maintaining its balance and springing back up in under a second when knocked down. This "violence test" showcases how humanoid robots are becoming tough enough for real-world applications where bumps, falls, and impacts are inevitable.

Your opinion matters!

You’re the reason our team spends hundreds of hours every week researching and writing this email. Please let us know what you thought of today’s email to help us create better emails for you.

Until next time,

Zain and the Superhuman AI team