Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, OpenAI and Microsoft join forces to develop human-like robots | Technology

Jeff Bezos, Nvidia and other big tech names are investing in a company that develops human-like robots, according to people familiar with the matter, as part of a fight to find new applications for artificial intelligence .

There to start up Figure AI, which also benefits from the support of OpenAI and Microsoft, completes a funding round with which it intends to raise around 675 million dollars, despite the fact that it carries a prior valuation of around 2 billion dollars, according to the same sources , which they asked not to be identified because it is a private matter. Through his company Explore Investments, Bezos committed $100 million. Microsoft will invest 95 million, while Nvidia and a fund affiliated with Amazon.com They will each bring 50 million.

Robots have become a fundamental new frontier for the artificial intelligence sector, enabling cutting-edge technology to be applied to real-world tasks. In Figure, engineers are working on a robot that looks and moves like a human. The company said it hopes its machine, called Figure 01, can perform dangerous jobs that are unsuitable for people and that its technology will help alleviate labor shortages.

Other technology companies are also participating. The venture capital arm of Intel Corp. is contributing $25 million, and LG Innotek is contributing $8.5 million. For its part, Samsung’s investment group has committed five million. Also among the sponsors are venture capital firms Parkway Venture Capital, which is investing $100 million, and Align Ventures, which is contributing $90 million.

ARK Venture Fund is also participating with $2.5 million, while Aliya Capital Partners is investing $20 million. Other investors are Tamarack, with $27 million; Boscolo Intervest Ltd., which is investing 15 million, and BOLD Capital Partners, with 2.5 million.

OpenAI, which once considered acquiring Figure, is investing five million dollars. Bloomberg News reported in January on the funding round, which began with Microsoft and OpenAI as the initial lead investors. These big names helped attract the influx of cash from other entities. The $675 million raised represents a significant increase from the $500 million Figure initially requested.

Representatives for Figure and its investors declined to comment or did not immediately respond to requests for information.

People with knowledge of the matter expect investors to move funds to Figure AI and sign formal agreements on Monday, but the numbers could change as final details are finalized. The valuation of approximately $2 billion is pre-silverwhich means that it does not take into account the amount of increased capital.

In May, Figure raised $70 million in a funding round led by Parkway. At the time, its CEO, Brett Adcock, said: “We hope to be one of the first groups to bring to market a humanoid capable of actually being useful and carrying out commercial activities.” »

The AI ​​robotics sector has been very busy lately. Earlier this year, OpenAI-backed Norwegian robotics company 1X Technologies AS raised $100 million. Sanctuary AI, based in Vancouver, is developing a humanoid robot called Phoenix. And Tesla Inc. is working on a robot called Optimus, which Elon Musk considers one of his most important projects.

Agility Robotics, backed by Amazon in 2022, is testing robots in one of the retailer’s warehouses. Bezos – the second-richest person in the world, according to Bloomberg’s billionaires rankings – served as CEO of Amazon until 2021 and remains chairman.

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