The Rise of Humanoid Robotics w/ Brett Adcock | EP #57
Aug 3, 2023
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Brett Adcock, an innovative tech entrepreneur and founder of Figure, dives into the exciting future of humanoid robots. He envisions billions of humanoids working alongside humans by the 2030s, transforming the labor landscape. Adcock discusses their potential use in various sectors, including elder care and space exploration, making physical labor a choice. He also shares insights on the integration of AI and the importance of human-like capabilities, while predicting substantial economic impacts as these robots become part of everyday life.
Humanoid robots have the potential to transform the labor industry, particularly in warehousing and manufacturing, with the prediction of up to 10 billion humanoids on Earth in the coming decades.
Figure, an AI robotics company, aims to design autonomous general-purpose humanoids to make physical labor a choice rather than a necessity, addressing critical labor force challenges and improving work conditions in various sectors.
Figure is committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and demonstrating the capabilities of their autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots within the next year, aiming to revolutionize industries like manufacturing and warehousing.
Deep dives
Humanoid Robots Revolutionize Labor Force with Potential $154 Billion in Revenue
Goldman Sachs predicts that humanoid robots could generate $154 billion in revenue in the next 15 years. With the potential for up to 10 billion humanoids on the planet, these robots have the opportunity to transform the labor industry, particularly in warehousing and manufacturing. Figure, an AR robotics company, aims to design an autonomous general-purpose humanoid to make physical labor a choice and conduct useful work for humanity. The company believes that this decade is the right time to make significant progress in this field and hopes to demonstrate their robots in real-life applications within the next two years.
Building the Future: The Vision of Figure's Humanoid Robots
Figure is developing an autonomous general-purpose humanoid robot to create a substantial impact on various sectors. By designing these humanoids, Figure aims to solve critical labor force challenges and improve work conditions in areas such as manufacturing, warehouse operations, and caring for the elderly. The company envisions a future where humanoids, with their advanced capabilities in manipulation and locomotion, are deployed to perform physical labor tasks that are monotonous, dangerous, or unsuitable for humans. With a target of potentially placing up to 10 billion humanoids on the Earth, Figure seeks to redefine the human-robot interaction and enhance productivity.
The Journey to Commercializing Humanoid Robots
Figure is on a mission to bring humanoid robots into the market and revolutionize various industries. Their primary focus is on addressing labor shortages and improving efficiency in sectors like manufacturing and warehousing. The company aims to develop robots capable of performing monotonous and dangerous tasks, empowering workers and enhancing productivity. While the path to commercializing humanoid robots has its challenges, such as procuring reliable hardware, developing robust software, and addressing supply chain limitations, Figure is committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and demonstrating the capabilities of their robots within the next year.
Humanoid Robots: Transforming Labor and Redefining the Future
Humanoid robots have the potential to reshape the labor force, ushering in a new era of automation and efficiency. Figure is at the forefront of this transformative movement, designing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. They envision a future where robots can perform physical tasks previously allocated to humans, improving work conditions and safety. By leveraging advanced technologies like AI and vision systems, Figure aims to create humanoids that can understand and interact with the environment, paving the way for increased productivity and a more harmonious human-robot collaboration. With their focus on innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible, Figure is poised to play a significant role in defining the future of labor.
Impact of Humanoid Robots in Logistics and Fulfillment
Humanoid robots are being increasingly utilized in the logistics and fulfillment industry to tackle issues such as labor shortage, safety concerns, and efficiency improvement. These robots can perform tasks such as packing, unpacking, and trucking, filling the gap of manual labor. They can operate for extended hours, allowing for 24/7 operations. With their ability to work continuously without breaks, vacations, or insurance, humanoid robots prove to be an ideal solution for certain class of problems in warehouses and fulfillment centers. As technology matures and they demonstrate performance, safety, and ROI potential, tens of millions of humanoid robots could be shipped and deployed in logistics and fulfillment in the next few years.
Potential Applications of Humanoid Robots in Various Industries
Beyond logistics and fulfillment, humanoid robots have the potential to revolutionize different industries such as healthcare, real estate, construction, and retail. In healthcare, they can support and care for the aging population, enabling individuals to age in their homes instead of moving to facilities. The maturity of the technology, including reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness, will play a crucial role in entering the elderly care market. Additionally, humanoid robots can be invaluable in space exploration, aiding in the colonization of planets like the Moon and Mars by preparing facilities and performing labor-intensive tasks. As the technology progresses, the possibilities for humanoid robots are vast and could have a profound impact on numerous industries.
In this episode, Peter and Brett discuss the future of humanoid robots, predicting that there could be up to 10 billion humanoids on Earth in the coming decades. Adcock shares his vision for creating autonomous general-purpose humanoids that can be inserted into the economy to perform physical labor, making it a choice rather than a necessity.
07:32 | Humanoid Robots: Near Future
19:10 | A New Humanoid Robot Age
58:09 | Unlocking Humanoid Robot Potential
Brett Adcock is an American technology entrepreneur and the founder of Figure, an AI robotics company building a general-purpose humanoid robot. Previously, Brett founded Archer Aviation, an urban air mobility company that IPO’d at $2.7B. He also founded Vettery, a machine learning-based talent marketplace that was acquired for $110M.
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