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The day that humanoid robots wash the dishes and do the laundry may be closer than you think. On Thursday, Figure AI introduced its next-generation robot, Figure 03, taking its technology beyond factory floors to the home.
“Figure 03 is a general-purpose humanoid robot for every day,” the California startup said. In a video, it showed off the new model performing a wide range of chores at home, including watering plants, serving food, folding clothes, and tidying up a room.
The robot is able to see and execute the complex actions through “Helix,” the company’s AI-powered system, which can control the robot in real-time, without following a predetermined script, the startup says. Figure was previously using OpenAI’s models but has since ditched them for the company’s own proprietary technology.
In one demo, the 132-pound robot is able to pick up a cup and dish from the living room, walk over to the kitchen sink, and carefully rinse them with water from the faucet. Figure 03, which stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall, then opens the dishwasher and places the cup and dish inside.
(Credit: Figure)
The video portrays Figure 03 as a cutting-edge robot butler, which can wirelessly recharge itself through its feet by standing on a platform. The robot can also run for up to 5 hours on a single charge. Figure’s founder and CEO, Brett Adcock, added that “nothing in this film is teleoperated,” indicating that the robot is operating without any remote assistance.
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It’s an impressive feat considering a typical house has numerous obstacles, perhaps more than a factory setting, which the older model, Figure 02, was designed for.
The big questions are how much Figure 03 will cost and when it’ll be available. For now, the company hasn’t said, but notes that the new robot model can be built at a “lower manufacturing cost” compared with the previous models.
(Credit: Figure)
Adcock also told Time Magazine: “We want the robot to be able to do most things in your home, autonomously, all day… We’re not there yet. We think we can get there in 2026, but it’s a big push.” For now, the company plans to offer Figure 03 to select partners for testing.
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The robot has also been designed for commercial applications. The company’s video shows it delivering a package, working on an assembly line, and even acting as a waiter at a restaurant, which might spark fears about Figure robots taking human jobs. Figure’s Master Plan currently says, “These robots can eliminate the need for unsafe and undesirable jobs — ultimately allowing us to live happier, more purposeful lives.”
To improve Figure 03, the company notes that the robot now comes with an “embedded palm camera” in each hand, giving it “close-range visual feedback during grasps.”
“These cameras allow Helix to maintain visual awareness even when the main cameras are occluded (i.e. when reaching into a cabinet or working in confined spaces) and enable continuous, adaptive control in real time,” the company wrote in a blog post.
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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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