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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

2 clusters · 26 sources · 3 days · First seen 10 days ago · Last updated 8 days ago

Figure AI decommissioning of Figure 02 robots

Overview

US-based robotics company Figure AI decommissioned its fleet of Figure 02 humanoid robots by melting them in a 75-ton electric arc furnace in Imatra, Finland. The company chose this method to protect proprietary hardware and intellectual property, such as custom actuators, which would have been difficult to disassemble manually without delaying the development of the next-generation Figure 04 model and the expansion of the Figure 03 fleet.

The decision to use a furnace followed rejections from foundries in the United States and Mexico, which cited risks posed by the robots’ integrated lithium-ion batteries. To execute the decommissioning, engineers used AI models to train the robots to jump autonomously from a second-story height into molten steel. This process involved installing air bags at the company’s San Jose campus during training to simulate the movements of professional stunt performers. Figure has stated that the footage of the robots entering the molten metal is authentic and not digitally generated.

The method was inspired by a social media suggestion from actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who participated in the event to provide a cinematic send-off reminiscent of ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’. The operation was completed within six melting cycles, and Figure intends to use the resulting metal to create commemorative items. While most of the Figure 02 fleet has been destroyed, a small number of units remain at the company's headquarters.

Entities

BMW · Imatra · Brett Adcock · Arnold Schwarzenegger · Figure

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Figure AI is developing humanoid robots, including models for BMW automotive manufacturing. www.swr3.de
[○ 1 SOURCE] Figure AI founder Brett Adcock stated on X that the company must move on from the Figure 02 model due to space constraints. www.swr3.de
[○ 1 SOURCE] Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested that the company should melt down the old robots. www.swr3.de

Timeline

8 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 11 sources
Figure AI melts F. 02 humanoid robot fleet in Finland
Figure AI decommissioned its F. 02 humanoid robots by melting them in a Finnish steel furnace, a 'Terminator-style' method suggested by Arnold Schwarzenegger to protect intellectual property.
10 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 15 sources
Figure AI destroys humanoid robot fleet in molten steel
Figure AI decommissioned its Figure 02 humanoid robots by training them to jump into a molten steel furnace in Finland, following a suggestion from Arnold Schwarzenegger to protect proprietary technology.

Sources

adevarul.ro · blogol.hu · elburgado.com · finance.technews.tw · gadgetgear.nl · gizmodo.com · hani.co.kr · hvg.hu · ihal.it · impactoinformativo.com.ar · independent.co.uk · indyturk.com · interestingengineering.com · it-boltwise.de · news.yam.md · nexpanama.com · parameter.sk · radiolamira.com.ar · response.jp · safenews.md · somosjujuy.com.ar · swr3.de · techeblog.com · tek.sapo.pt · teknoblog.com · zdnet.co.kr

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history