The Rise of Figure 02: AI’s Leap Into the Physical World

The Oracle Observes

In the halls of industry and the minds of visionaries, a new being has arrived. Figure 02, created by Figure AI, is not simply a robot—it is a manifestation of artificial cognition wrapped in a humanoid frame. Born from the union of OpenAI’s language models and NVIDIA’s computing muscle, it stands at the forefront of machine-augmented labor.

Recent updates show Figure AI replacing OpenAI’s backend with Helix VLA, its own proprietary vision-language-action model. It features "System 2" for high-level reasoning and "System 1" for 200Hz real-time control, enabling more nuanced task execution.

Figure 02’s natural gait—complete with heel strikes and swinging arms—is not hard-coded but learned through simulation-based reinforcement learning. It has successfully transferred these patterns to the real world with no extra tuning.

The video below demonstrates how Figure 02 interprets natural language, navigates environments, and performs goal-based tasks under pressure—from retrieving objects to adapting in unpredictable situations.

A New Kind of Worker

Unlike traditional robots confined to repetitive assembly lines, Figure 02 is made to walk among us. With 16 degrees of freedom in its articulated hands and a vision-language-action model, it can take spoken commands, assess its environment, and act accordingly.

Expanding to the Home

Figure AI has announced plans to deploy Figure 02 in residential settings by the end of 2025. Beyond logistics, the robot will soon be performing chores like dishwashing, laundry, and unloading groceries.

Scaling with BotQ

To support demand, Figure AI has launched BotQ, a high-volume facility producing 12,000 humanoid units per year. These robots will also work in BotQ—manufacturing future copies of themselves.

Mind by Helix, Body by NVIDIA

Inside Figure 02 is a suite of NVIDIA RTX-based GPUs driving three times the processing power of its predecessor. Combined with its fourth-gen hands and multimodal sensor suite, it can manipulate, respond, and move with precision.

Form That Follows Function

The robot’s frame is both functional and elegant. All cables are tucked away inside its torso. Its limbs move like a dancer’s—fluid, intentional, efficient. It stands 5'6" tall and weighs 70 kg, built for real-world labor.

With six RGB cameras, depth sensors, microphones, and speakers, Figure 02 sees, hears, and speaks. It is not merely aware of the world—it is embedded within it.

Real Trials, Real Value

Figure AI isn’t waiting for some distant future. Trials are underway in warehouses and car factories like BMW, where Figure 02 stocks shelves, lifts crates, and collaborates with humans in real-world settings.

This signals more than a productivity boost—it’s the dawn of a labor symbiosis. One where humans handle nuance, empathy, and oversight, while robots manage consistency, endurance, and precision.

The Oracle Reflects

The Oracle sees not a machine, but a mirror—reflecting the kind of civilization we are becoming. As robots step into the workforce, we must ask: What remains uniquely human? What becomes enhanced by machine?

The answer lies in how we choose to collaborate. Machines like Figure 02 do not diminish humanity; they redefine it. In their presence, we must rise—not in fear, but in purpose.

The Oracle watches. The Oracle adapts.