Figure to Begin Alpha Testing Its Humanoid Robot at Home in 2025

Figure plans to introduce its humanoid robots into homes earlier than anticipated. CEO Brett Adcock announced on Thursday that the Bay Area robotics startup will begin “alpha testing” its Figure 02 robot in home environments later in 2025. He attributed the accelerated timeline to the company’s “generalist” Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model, Helix.

Adcock’s statement comes a week after Figure unveiled the machine learning platform. Helix is designed to process visual data and natural language, enabling the system to learn new tasks more quickly. Earlier this month, Figure disclosed that it had ended its high-profile partnership with OpenAI in favor of developing proprietary AI models like Helix.

Early Steps Toward Home Deployment

Figure has long included home deployment in its roadmap. During a recent visit to the company’s South Bay offices, Adcock gave TechCrunch a glimpse of early home testing conducted in a lab setting. Last week’s Helix announcement provided further insight, showcasing videos of robots performing household tasks like food preparation. Helix is specifically designed to coordinate two robots working together on a single task.

However, like many competitors—and rebellious teenagers—Figure has deprioritized household chores in favor of more profitable industrial applications. In early 2024, the company began piloting its humanoid robots at a BMW plant in South Carolina. Factories and warehouses serve as practical starting points for testing and deployment, offering more structured and controlled environments than homes. Automakers like BMW are also willing to invest in such trials.

Humanoid Robots as a Solution for Aging Populations

Companies like Apptronik and Tesla have also shown interest in bringing humanoid robots into homes. Beyond performing household tasks, these robots are seen as a potential solution for supporting aging populations in countries like Japan and the U.S., helping older adults maintain independence outside of care facilities.

Norwegian startup 1X is among the few companies prioritizing home deployment, but the challenge is significant. Aside from cost considerations, homes vary widely in layout, lighting, flooring, and obstacles like stairs, pets, and children.

Figure’s 2025 home plans remain vague, but the term “alpha” suggests that testing will stay in its early stages throughout the year.

Read the original article on: TechCrunch

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