Figure AI breaks partnership with OpenAI and creates its own AI models

Startup Company Figure AI, which develops humanoid robots, announced the termination of cooperation with OpenAI and the intention to develop own artificial intelligence models.

As stated by the founder of the company Brett Adcock, Figure AI abandons OpenAI's multi-modal AI models, which were previously used for vision and speech support robots. According to him, integration of third-party AI was not effective enough:

"We can't outsource AI for the same reason we can't outsource our hardware."

The company promises to introduce new technologies within 30 daysclaiming that they "won't be like anything we've ever seen before" in robotics.

Figure AI's decision is surprising, given that OpenAI has not only been a technology partner, but also a major investor a startup. At the beginning of 2023, Figure AI attracted $675 million financing for the assessment in $2.6 billion.

Despite changes in its strategy, the startup continues to develop industrial solutions: for example, BMW It has already signed an agreement to use Figure AI robots at its South Carolina plant.

Some experts believe that the gap with OpenAI may be related to competition. OpenAI previously closed its robotics division, but now actively recruiting a team to create its own equipmentwhich could potentially make it a competitor to Figure AI.