The AI company world is at an exciting juncture. The push by industry players to outdo one another and advance the capabilities of machines going forward has altered the relationship between leading AI company players such as OpenAI and innovative robotics companies. Everyone’s biggest question is: Who will own the future in intelligent robots—giant AI incumbents, nimble startups, or a new generation of internal disruptors?
Figure’s Move Away from OpenAI
Among the most interesting recent moves is from Figure, a robot humanoid firm that has decided to break up with OpenAI. Figure CEO Brett Adcock teased a “breakthrough” in their own AI creation and vowed to show “something no one has ever seen on a humanoid” soon. The move reflects increasing confidence for robot firms to create in-house AI models instead of turning to outside sources such as OpenAI.
Industry observers are abuzz with speculation about whether this is the start of a larger trend of businesses demanding more control of their technology stacks, moving away from dependence on third-party AI platforms. As TechCrunch reports, Figure’s departure has generated lively debate about the future of AI in robotics.
Affordable AI: Changing the Game
It’s not only existing businesses that are grabbing the headlines. New research by Stanford and the University of Washington demonstrated it is possible to train an extremely powerful “reasoning” AI model for under $50 in cloud compute credits—a fraction of the usually eye-watering sums involved in models from businesses such as OpenAI. This development significantly reduces the entry barrier for sophisticated AI, opening up opportunities for academic groups and smaller entrepreneurs to compete and innovate.
The implications are far-reaching: the field of AI is opening up, and the big players are being threatened by both cost-based innovation and ingenuity.
Google’s Robotics Journey: Progress and Pitfalls
Google’s decade-long robotics initiative offers a valuable insight into the difficulty of melding AI and physical devices. After more than seven years of effort, Google rolled out robots on its campuses that could wipe down tables, scan rooms, and sort trash—all powered by AI that could read language and visual signals.
Even with this advance, Google canceled its Everyday Robots project in early 2023 because of its high cost of operations. Although some robots and scientists were absorbed into Google DeepMind, the move caught many by surprise and pointed to how challenging it is to scale robotics technology, no matter the size and resources of the firm.
The Global Race for Robotic Workers
The demand for smart robots isn’t about innovation egos—it’s necessary because it’s motivated by an acute demographic crisis. In 1970, there were approximately 10 working-age adults per individual aged 64 or older. By 2050, it will dip below four. This is a demographic change that poses immediate questions: Who will look after the elderly, operate factories, or drive cars?
Other nations such as China, South Korea, and Japan consider robotics a necessity, not an extravagance, but a national security and economic imperative. To them, robotics investment is a vital tool to confront these population and labor issues in a big way.
Challenges Facing US Innovation
America continues to dominate in AI research, but creating the hardware robots that realize AI is an altogether different challenge. A past Google robotics chief said, “Building highly complex systems at this scale went way beyond what venture-capital-funded startups have historically had the patience for.” The capital, expertise, and infrastructure needed to support such grand endeavors are substantial, and China is already ahead in all these respects.
With Google and other technology giants such as Facebook and Microsoft backing away from high-profile robotics moonshots, the question becomes: Who will fill the vacuum in the U.S.? Will agile startups step up to the challenge, or will emerging partnerships create the next wave?
The Human Side of Robotics
In addition to the technology and business models, the demand for sophisticated robotics is highly personal. One veteran of Google’s robotics division reported that robots were too late to assist his mother during her last few years, affirming his conviction that the next generation of AI-powered robots “can’t come soon enough.” This mindset reveals the genuine stakes of this competition in technology, not only for companies and nations, but for families and individuals who will depend on these developments in everyday life.
Looking Ahead
As the world of AI-driven robotics keeps changing at a lightning pace, the competition is on to find out who will bring the next revolution. Whether it is a cutting-edge startup-like Figure, a research behemoth, or a country staking its chip on smart machines, the point is: The future of work, of care, and of daily life is being written today—and the world is intently observing.
