Figure CEO Says No Teleoperation in Their Humanoid Robot Testing

Bloomberg Technology
Bloomberg TechnologyMay 15, 2026

Why It Matters

Figure’s proof of fully autonomous, human‑speed humanoid robots validates a scalable model for warehouse automation, challenging incumbents and accelerating the shift toward end‑to‑end robotic logistics.

Key Takeaways

  • Figure's humanoid robots ran 50+ hours fully autonomously.
  • No teleoperation; onboard Helix‑2 neural net controls all actions.
  • Robots process a package every three seconds, matching human speed.
  • Vertical integration covers hardware, manufacturing, AI training, and maintenance.
  • Scaling bottlenecks: massive data for AI and high‑volume robot production.

Summary

Figure’s CEO used a live‑streamed test to prove its humanoid robots can operate without any tele‑operation, relying solely on the in‑house Helix‑2 neural network. Over the past fifty hours the fleet handled roughly 60,000 packages, swapping batteries and taking over shifts automatically, with virtually no downtime on the conveyor line. The robots move at human‑level speed—about three seconds per package—and exhibit consistent behaviors, such as lifting the left hand when turning to grab items. Battery life averages four hours, after which a robot signals a peer to replace it while it charges wirelessly. The system also self‑diagnoses hardware or software faults, walks to a maintenance station, and calls a replacement, demonstrating end‑to‑end autonomy. Key moments highlighted include the CEO’s firm denial of any remote control, the observable hand‑lifting pattern, and the seamless handoff between units during battery swaps. He emphasized that four years ago humanoid robots were unreliable, yet today the platform runs 24/7 with a target 90% barcode‑scan success rate, underscoring a dramatic reliability leap. The demonstration signals that fully autonomous, vertically integrated humanoid robots are moving from prototype to commercial scale. With a billion‑dollar cash cushion, Figure is tackling two primary bottlenecks—massive AI training data and high‑volume manufacturing—to accelerate deployment in logistics and beyond, potentially reshaping warehouse automation and prompting larger players to consider end‑to‑end robot solutions.

Original Description

Figure, a robotics company developing humanoid robots that operate via AI, is running a livestream of one of its robots sorting packages in real time to show off its capabilities. The livestream was watched by millions across YouTube and X, but drew some skepticism. Figure CEO Brett Adcock joins Bloomberg’s Caroline Hyde and Ed Ludlow on "Bloomberg Tech" to counter claims that its robots are teleoperated.
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