Recently, Figure founder and CEO Brett Adcock announced a new machine learning model called Helix, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of humanoid robots in household environments. This news comes just two weeks after Figure announced the end of its collaboration with OpenAI, demonstrating their strong commitment to the field of robotics technology. Helix is a 'general-purpose' visual-language-action (VLA) model capable of processing visual data.

In the field of robotics, the American startup Figure AI recently released a large edge model named Helix, marking a significant breakthrough in humanoid robot control technology. Helix is the first visual-language-action (VLA) model capable of high-frequency, continuous control over the entire upper body of a humanoid robot, including the head, torso, wrists, and fingers. This means that the robot can perform tasks directly based on natural language instructions without extensive training.

On the technological stage, two giants, Apple and Meta, are quietly embarking on a competition for AI-driven humanoid robots. Despite their rivalry in certain areas, the intertwining of cooperation and competition may usher in a new chapter in technology. As a pioneer in consumer electronics, Apple's innovation capabilities in smart hardware are unquestionable. Recently, reports have revealed that Apple is heavily investing in artificial intelligence and robotics technology, aiming to develop a humanoid robot capable of interacting naturally with humans.

Recently, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that Apple is actively exploring the development of humanoid and non-humanoid robots, considering them an important part of the future smart home ecosystem. This news closely follows a research paper released by Apple that discusses the interaction between humans and 'non-anthropomorphized' robots, such as Pixar-style lamps. Although Apple's research is still in the early concept validation stage, Kuo noted that this study provides crucial technical references for future consumer robots. He predicts that mass production of Apple robots may occur.

Recently, OpenAI submitted a new application to the trademark office indicating that the company may be entering the humanoid robotics field. According to the application filed on January 31, OpenAI plans to launch several new products, notably mentioning 'user-programmable humanoid robots' and robots capable of communication and learning, aimed at providing assistance and entertainment for people. Moreover, OpenAI is actively recruiting new members for its robotics team. According to the company’s official recruitment information, they currently have openings for mechanical product engineers, robotics specialists, and senior researchers.

Realbotix, a leading manufacturer of humanoid robots and companion AI, is further expanding its technological capabilities by launching large language model (LLM) integration and advanced customization features. These new functionalities are set to debut in February 2025, allowing users to seamlessly connect with a variety of mainstream AI platforms including OpenAI's ChatGPT, Meta's Llama, Google's Gemini, and the newly launched DeepSeek R1.

South Korean electronics giant LG Electronics recently announced at CES 2025 that it will increase its investment in the development of humanoid robots, aiming for breakthroughs in this field using its AI model technology Q9. In recent years, LG has launched a series of service robots, such as the LG CLOi ServeBot and GuideBot, which primarily rely on wheeled mobility and possess limited flexibility and dexterity. LG Electronics CEO Kwon Bong-seok stated at the press conference that robots are the future of humanity.

OpenAI recently announced the launch of its robot project to further explore the development of robotics technology. On January 11, Caitlin Kalinowski, the director of OpenAI's hardware department, revealed on social media that OpenAI would begin developing robots equipped with custom sensors and published related job openings on its official website. This recruitment covers three key positions: Electronic Perception Engineer, Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer, and Technical Project Manager. The primary responsibility of the Electronic Perception Engineer is to design and develop...

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES), NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang delivered an ambitious speech about the future of artificial intelligence and robotics. He stated that the robotics industry is facing a 'trillion-dollar' market opportunity, with rapid growth expected in the coming years. Huang emphasized the application of AI models in various types of robots, particularly humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles. He mentioned that NVIDIA's collaboration with Toyota will advance autonomous driving technology.

In the context of rapid development in the global AI industry, Nvidia made a significant launch of a series of new products and services at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), aimed at helping businesses build AI assistants and robotic work teams. CEO Jensen Huang showcased the powerful capabilities of these AI agents, including the ability to automate task completion, during his keynote speech. He presented animated depictions of himself in various roles, indicating that AI agents can handle.

In a personal investment note released on January 3, 2025, Zhou Yahui, Founder of Kunlun Wanwei, discussed the impact of the Robot Era on social structure. He pointed out that Kunlun Wanwei's mission is to gradually achieve General Artificial Intelligence (AGI) after 2030, with the aim of enabling everyone to better shape and express themselves. Zhou Yahui stated that despite numerous predictions about the realization of AGI both domestically and internationally, he firmly believes that AGI will gradually be realized starting in 2030, at which point robots will officially enter human society. Image source note: image generated by AI.

According to reports from Lei Feng Network, BYD's fifteenth business unit has officially launched a humanoid robot project, codenamed 'Yao Shun Yu'. Currently, the project team is continuously recruiting related technical talent, but BYD has not yet made any public response. On December 13, BYD officially released specialized recruitment information for the intelligent research team. This recruitment covers multiple technical fields, including senior algorithm engineers, senior structural engineers, senior simulation engineers, senior robotic engineers, and senior perception algorithm engineers, with work locations primarily distributed in

According to technology media The Information, ChatGPT developer OpenAI is exploring the development of its own humanoid robots. Although OpenAI closed its robotics division in 2021, the company has actively engaged in the robotics field through investments in recent years. Currently, OpenAI has invested in three robotics companies: Figure, 1X, and Physical Intelligence. Among them, Figure AI, founded in 2020, focuses on autonomous general-purpose robotics.

Google DeepMind and robotics company Apptronik have announced a collaboration to combine their technical expertise in developing AI humanoid robots capable of operating in complex dynamic environments. This partnership aims to advance the deep integration of robotic hardware and artificial intelligence, exploring broader possibilities for robots in both industrial and everyday applications. Apptronik has been independently operating since 2016, spun off from the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, and has developed 15 different robot models to date, including the...

On December 16, ZhiYuan Robotics announced the official launch of commercial mass production of general-purpose robots, marking the company's transition from the startup phase to industrialization. Since its establishment in February 2022 in the Shanghai Lingang New Area, ZhiYuan Robotics has rapidly grown and released its first humanoid robot, 'Yanzheng A1'. This year, the company plans to achieve large-scale production of robots by 2024 and has built Shanghai's first humanoid robot mass production facility in Lingang Fengxian. Founder Peng Zhihui expressed on social media: 'In two years, we've forged a sword, from inspiration to blueprint, from prototype to mass production, ZhiYuan.'

Addverb Technologies, backed by the Reliance Group, is rapidly catching up with the global robotics industry. The company recently announced that it will launch its first humanoid robots in 2025, with an initial plan to roll out 100 units. Sangeet Kumar, the co-founder and CEO of Addverb, stated in an interview that these robots will be utilized across various sectors including energy and retail. Addverb has a strong background.