Figure AI Retires Humanoid Robot Fleet by Having Them Jump Into Vat of Molten Steel
aiinsider ·
Figure AI has retired the majority of its Figure 02 humanoid robot fleet by instructing them to jump autonomously into a vat of molten steel. This dramatic decommissioning method was inspired by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who suggested melting the units after referencing his iconic role in The Terminator. The company sought a foundry capable of handling lithium-ion batteries, but facilities in the U.S. and Mexico declined, leading them to partner with a site in Imatra, Finland. Before shipping the robots overseas, Figure trained an AI model using simulation data from stunt performers to ensure accurate jumps from a second-story building. Despite intense heat and electromagnetic interference during the process, the robots executed their programmed policies until destruction. The resulting recycled steel is being shipped back to the United States to be machined into limited commemorative artifacts. While most of the Figure 02 units have been destroyed, a small number remain in storage at the company's headquarters.
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