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Apptronik secures $350M to expand humanoid ??

Apptronik has raised $350 million in Series A funding to scale its Apollo humanoid robot, bringing its total funding to $378 million since its founding in 2016. The round was co-led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with Google also participating.

The company has partnered with Mercedes-Benz and GXO Logistics to test Apollo in real-world manufacturing and logistics environments. While future applications in homes and healthcare are possible, the CEO Jeff Cardenas believes structured industrial settings are the best place to start.

Google DeepMind is collaborating with Apptronik to enhance Apollo’s AI capabilities. The company is also building a “data factory” in Austin, where robots will collect real-world data to improve performance.

Texas-based Capital Factory played a key role in assembling local investors, including families from the oil and gas industry, who were looking to invest in high-tech ventures.

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Figure seeks $1.5 billion at $39.5 billion valuation ??

According to sources, humanoid robotics startup Figure is in talks to raise $1.5 billion in a Series C funding round. The round, which would value the company at $39.5 billion, is expected to be led by Parkway Venture Capital, with Align Ventures co-leading.

Figure AI, which counts BMW as a customer, is among many companies racing to develop AI-powered humanoid robots for logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing. In 2024, the company raised $675 million from investors such as OpenAI, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Jeff Bezos, valuing it at $2.6 billion.

CEO Brett Adcock recently announced Figure AI’s decision to end its collaboration with OpenAI, citing internal breakthroughs in AI that make external partnerships unnecessary.

The funding talks come amid increased competition, with Meta Platforms launching a division for AI humanoid robots and Tesla planning to release its Optimus robot by 2025.

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Meta enters humanoid robotics race ??

Meta is taking a bold step into the humanoid robotics space, setting up a new division within Reality Labs to develop AI-driven robots that assist with physical tasks. According to an internal memo, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth outlined the company’s goal to integrate its Llama AI models into robotics, expanding its AI capabilities beyond social media.

The new robotics product group will be led by Marc Whitten, former CEO of self-driving car company Cruise. Despite Reality Labs losing $5 billion in Q4 2024, Meta is betting big on AI-driven robotics, joining the race to develop humanoid robots. While progress in robotics has been slower than in AI chatbots, Meta has been investing in "embodied AI", aiming to develop assistants that see, hear, and navigate the real world.

Meta plans to build its humanoid robots for household tasks, while also developing AI, sensors, and software that can power robots from manufacturers like Unitree Robotics and Figure AI. The company does not intend to launch a Meta-branded robot immediately but has begun discussions with industry players to shape its future in robotics.

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The thin line between robot testing and abuse ??

Chinese startup Booster Robotics has released intense footage of its T1 humanoid robot enduring extreme durability tests. Engineers smash glass bottles over its head, strike it with sledgehammers, and even break a stick on its chest—yet the 1.2-meter, 30 kg robot keeps moving.

This comes amid rising debates on robot ethics after Twitch streamer Kai Cenat was criticized for rough handling a Unitree G1 humanoid. While some call such tests "robot abuse," others argue they are essential for proving resilience. Companies like Boston Dynamics and Unitree have long used similar stress trials to showcase their robots’ toughness.

Booster Robotics, however, is taking things to another level, emphasizing extreme durability as a core feature. The company has also partnered with RoboCup, a competition aiming to develop autonomous humanoid soccer players by 2050. As testing becomes more intense, the debate over robot treatment vs. necessary durability trials continues.

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