--- title: "BMW Putting Humanoid Robots to Work in Its Factory" description: "BMW has signed an unprecedented deal with the robotics firm Figure to bring general-purpose humanoid robots into its factories." date: "2024-01-26" modified: "2024-01-26" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/bmw-humanoid-robots-factory" categories: - "Robotics" - "Robots and Machines" tags: - "ai robots" - "automation" - "BMW" - "the digest" --- # BMW Putting Humanoid Robots to Work in Its Factory ![BMW has signed an unprecedented deal with the robotics firm Figure to bring general-purpose humanoid robots into its factories.]() *\Image: Figure AI / Futurism\* ## Figure01 Remember before generative AI began threatening [white-collar jobs](), when worries that humanoid robots would replace physical human labor abounded? Well, our corporate overlords are here to remind us that we still need to worry about those imagined dextrous factory bots, too. As [*Gizmodo* reports](), automobile manufacturer BMW announced last week that it's signed an unprecedented deal with the California-based robotics firm Figure to bring general-purpose humanoid robots into its Spartanburg, South Carolina factory. Per *Giz*, the company is specifically set to deploy its namesake "[Figure01]()" model, a bipedal robot that stands at 5'6" and 130 pounds. In a [press release](), BMW argued that the bots will be used to automate "difficult, unsafe, or tedious tasks throughout the manufacturing process." This, the release argues, will free workers to "focus on skills and processes that cannot be automated." But as *Giz* points out, that's an incredibly vague explanation of what these robots will be doing — other than the general taking of tasks away from human workers, of course. https://twitter.com/Figure_robot/status/1714220139200041443 ## Consulting Fee But that said, not even BMW appears to know what these [waddling](), [Keurig-using robots]() will be doing. According to the press release, the "first phase" of the agreement between the companies will involve Figure identifying "initial use cases to apply the Figure robots in automotive production." Manufacturers across industries, including automotive, have utilized robotics for decades. But these innovations have overwhelmingly been confined to single-purpose robotics, or machines used to automate a very specific task. A truly functional general-purpose bot, or a bot that could competently execute a variety of tasks sans the fear of workplace death and injury or — the horror! — things like lunch breaks and health insurance, has yet to be realized in a major manufacturing environment. ## United Automated Workers In a statement, Figure founder and CEO Brett Adcock proclaimed that the "potential of general-purpose robotics is completely untapped" and promised his machines "will enable companies to increase productivity, reduce costs, and create a safer and more consistent environment." Those purported benefits remain to be seen. But if BMW's integration effort ultimately proves fruitful, we can probably expect other major manufacturers to follow suit, especially considering a [recent *Wall Street Journal* report reveal**ing** that]() automobile executives in Detroit are extra bullish on automation these days following [2023's United Auto Workers (UAW) union wins](). BMW wasn't mentioned in that report, as its American workers aren't protected under the UAW. But we'd remiss not to note that back in November, following the UAW's big victories, [thousands of autoworkers]() at non-union companies including Tesla, Toyota, and — yes — BMW signed their UAW cards in hopes of future unionization. **More on workplace automation:** [*Oops! Replacing Workers With AI Is Actually More Expensive, MIT Finds*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()