With the meteoric rise of AI in recent years, robotics is naturally following suit. And now a new partnership between two several giants is likely to become a landmark, with Nvidia in the lead.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, Nvidia and other big tech figures are investing in startup Figure AI, which specializes in developing humanoid robots, according to a Bloomberg News report. This startup, also backed by OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, and Microsoft, is raising about $675 million in a funding round valuing the company at about $2 billion before the investment.
Nvidia and Amazon, hand in hand
As Reuters reports, Bezos has committed $100 million through his company Explore Investments LLC, while Microsoft is investing $95 million. Nvidia and an Amazon-affiliated fund each contribute $50 million. These investments come against a backdrop where AI startups are attracting attention following the launch of OpenAI’s viral chatbot ChatGPT in November 2022, with investors betting on the potential of these startups to leapfrog the biggest players in the market.
OpenAI, which had considered acquiring Figure at one point, is investing $5 million. Other backers include LG Innotek, Samsung’s investment group, as well as venture capital firms Parkway Venture Capital and Align Ventures. ARK Venture Fund, Aliya Capital Partners and Tamarack are also among the investors in the startup.
Based in Sunnyvale, California, Figure develops versatile humanoid robots capable of operating in different environments and performing a variety of tasks, from warehouses to retail. Last year, the startup raised $70 million from investors led by Parkway Venture Capital in its first external funding round.
With Figure AI and Tesla working on their respective humanoid robots, like Optimus, the future of robotics looks bright. Creepy or not, we’ll let you judge. Besides, for your part, what do you think of these massive investments?