Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock says the robotics company is building 'a new species'

"We're building a new species here,"

"One of the things I'm excited about is self-replicating von Neumann probes in space, where robots can basically build themselves and go out and mine methane and do the right things on different planets and build more of themselves, and basically colonize the galaxy this way,"

"like seven robots that walk past you doing things or whatever. It's gonna feel very sci-fi."

Figure AI envisions creating a new species of robots that can reproduce and share knowledge across units. The company projects self-replicating von Neumann probes capable of building themselves, mining methane, and constructing more units on different planets to enable space colonization. OpenAI has invested $5 million in Figure AI and shares expectations about robots operating in everyday human environments. Robotics competition includes Tesla's humanoid robot efforts. Some new startups question the necessity of human-like forms and legs for robots, exploring alternative designs focused on task efficiency rather than anthropomorphism.

Read at Business Insider