Nvidia Considers New $1B Investment in Figure AI

Nvidia is reportedly contemplating a new $1 billion funding contribution to Figure AI. The semiconductor giant previously participated in Figure's $1 billion Series C round in 2025, which valued the humanoid robotics startup at $39 billion. Nvidia already provides essential hardware and software powering Figure’s Helix robot models, making a potential follow-on deal a strategic move to lock in hardware infrastructure for physical AI deployments.

The broader robotics landscape is experiencing rapid advances in fine-motor dexterity and specialized hardware. AGILINK recently showcased its OmniHand 3 Ultra, which features 21 active degrees of freedom and uses reinforcement learning to split silk thread into 16 strands for Suzhou embroidery. In dexterous manipulation, Clone Robotics demonstrated its Torso 3 remote-controlled hand ahead of a November launch for Torso 4, while LinkerBot highlighted its LinkerHand O30 doing precision tricks aimed at industrial assembly. Meanwhile, Minerva Humanoids developed its teleoperated robot, Roger, in just five months, targeting hazardous deployments like bomb disposal and high-voltage work for initial paid pilots this fall.

Capital continues to flow heavily into supporting infrastructure and commercial applications. Mecka closed a $60 million Series B funding round backed by Nvidia, Microsoft’s M12, Qualcomm, and Samsung to scale its robotics data layer, while FireFly Robotics filed for a Nasdaq direct listing under the ticker FFLY. Additionally, Meteomatics claimed its stratospheric drone reached 34,245 feet for weather forecasting, Tesla extended its Austin Robotaxi operating hours to 11pm, and Vorwerk introduced its Thermomix TM7 kitchen device. Meanwhile, regulatory oversight is tightening, highlighted by California issuing a cease-and-desist order to startup REK over unsanctioned human-versus-robot fighting matches involving YouTuber Frankie LaPenna.

For practitioners, these combined movements demonstrate that physical AI is rapidly maturing beyond early-stage research into tightly regulated, highly funded commercial deployments. With tech giants heavily backing both core compute and software infrastructure, developers can expect faster iteration cycles, standardized platform layers, and broader access to high-precision hardware components across industrial and enterprise domains.