White House Showcases Figure AI Robot as Humanoid Tech Becomes National Priority
First lady Melania Trump introduces Figure 3, the first humanoid robot to visit the White House, during a global summit on technology and education. The high-profile event highlights the growing importance of physical AI amid international competition.
The White House hosts its first humanoid robot guest as first lady Melania Trump stands alongside Figure AI's Figure 3 robot during the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit. The machine greets attendees in multiple languages and identifies itself as a humanoid built in the United States, marking one of the highest-profile showcases of humanoid robotics in the country to date.
Melania Trump uses the robot to promote her initiative for artificial intelligence in children's education, suggesting that such machines could eventually serve as interactive educators in homes. Figure AI notes that its third-generation humanoids are designed for broader applications as well, including various commercial and household tasks that highlight the practical potential of physical AI.
This prominent White House display provides a major visibility boost for Nvidia-backed Figure AI, a rapidly growing startup founded in 2022 by tech entrepreneur Brett Adcock. The company powers its robots with an in-house system called Helix AI, which enables learning through observation and verbal commands, and recently raises over $1 billion in a Series C funding round driven by surging investor excitement for robotics.