Figure AI Unveils Autonomous Humanoid Robots for Household Chores, Raises $1 Billion in Funding

May 9, 2026
Figure AI Unveils Autonomous Humanoid Robots for Household Chores, Raises $1 Billion in Funding
  • The robots are powered by Figure AI’s Helix 02 model, introduced earlier in the year and trained on additional data to handle household and logistics tasks more effectively.

  • The Helix 02 model enables handling of complex tasks like arranging blankets and adapting to surroundings by observing and responding to context.

  • The robots are not yet for sale, but demonstrations indicate rapid progress toward household robot helpers and autonomous assistants.

  • Figure AI unveiled two humanoid robots capable of tidying rooms autonomously, demonstrated actions such as making a bed, hanging items like coats and headphones, organizing objects, and powering down a laptop without a remote.

  • Beyond tidying, the robots can fold laundry, open doors, clean kitchens, and maintain organized spaces, communicating silently through visual cues like head nods.

  • In a new video, the robots enter a bedroom, hang up items, straighten pillows, and tidy the bed, showing autonomous operation coordinated by visual signals rather than explicit communication.

  • Figure AI has raised over $1 billion in funding and is valued at about $39 billion, with competition from Tesla’s developing humanoid robot, Optimus.

  • Figure AI’s Helix 02 model was trained on new data to handle more complex tasks such as opening doors, pushing furniture, and draping clothing, though no consumer release date was announced.

  • CEO Brett Adcock has described ambitions to build a new species of robots capable of reproduction and knowledge sharing, a concept he has discussed publicly since 2025–2026.

  • Figure AI previously ended a collaboration with OpenAI on robot AI models to pursue its own development path.

  • The demonstration offers a glimpse into a future where AI-powered humanoids could serve as automated household companions for chores, though current models struggle with soft, flexible objects like blankets.

  • Beyond bed-making, the Helix 02-based humanoids can open doors, fold laundry, move furniture, clean kitchens, and organize living spaces, though they are not yet available to general consumers.

Summary based on 3 sources


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