Figure robot "retired" in smelter with Arnold Schwarzenegger's help
AI startup Figure held a dramatic "cremation ceremony" for its outgoing F.02 robot, with actor Arnold Schwarzenegger participating in the disposal.
US-based robotics company Figure has conducted a theatrical send-off for its older F.02 model humanoid robot, involving its disposal in a smelting furnace. The event featured actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who starred as the T-800 cyborg in the Terminator film series.
Figure stated that as its F.03 robot fleet expands, maintaining the older F.02 units has become impractical. The company explained that direct disassembly would be too time-consuming and could hinder the development of newer models, such as the F.04. Instead, Figure aimed to recover valuable hardware and intellectual property.
According to Figure, the idea for the robot to jump into the furnace originated from Schwarzenegger himself, after the company solicited ideas online. The actor, dressed in protective gear, led the F.02 robot towards the furnace, a scene reminiscent of Terminator 2. At the end of the video, he removed his helmet and declared, "Figure 2 is retired."
Finding a suitable facility proved challenging, as many US and Mexican companies refused due to concerns over the safety of the robots' lithium batteries. Figure eventually located an approved facility in Imatra, Finland. The company also trained a specific AI model to ensure the F.02 robot performed its final "leap" in a spectacular manner.