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Figure AI Retires Humanoid Robot Fleet by Having Them Jump Into Vat of Molten Steel
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Figure AI has retired most of its Figure 02 humanoid robot fleet in one of the most dramatic decommissioning stunts in tech history β by training the robots to jump autonomously into a vat of molten steel. The unusual retirement, inspired by a suggestion from actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, marks the end of an era for the platform that powered several of Figure's earliest milestones. The event underscores the growing challenge of safely disposing of advanced robotic hardware at scale as the industry rapidly evolves. This decommissioning highlights both the technical ambition and theatrical flair that have become hallmarks of CEO Brett Adcock's company.
Figure 02 played a pivotal role in the company's history, serving as the platform for Figure's first deployment at a BMW factory, the development of its Helix general-purpose AI system, household chore demonstrations, and logistics operations. As Figure 03 production scales up and Figure 04 enters development, maintaining the older fleet no longer made business sense. The robots contained proprietary actuators and custom hardware requiring secure destruction, but manual disassembly of each unit would have pulled scarce engineering resources away from next-generation work. The company decided it needed a creative, efficient solution rather than a laborious teardown.
Rather than handle decommissioning internally, Figure turned to the internet for ideas, and Schwarzenegger responded to Adcock's post on X with the now-famous suggestion: "You should melt them." Figure contacted the actor, who agreed to participate, referencing his Terminator character's iconic demise in molten steel. The search for a willing foundry proved difficult, as facilities in the United States and Mexico declined to accept units containing lithium-ion batteries. Even former MythBusters hosts were reportedly contacted during the extensive search before the company found a partner in Imatra, Finland.
The technical execution was remarkably sophisticated. At its San Jose campus, Figure set up large airbags and taught the robots to jump from a second-story building. Using professional stunt performers as reference footage, engineers trained a new AI model entirely in simulation, enabling the robots to jump accurately into a bucket of molten steel at a foundry they had never visited before. The Finnish facility uses three large graphite electrodes powering a 75-ton electric arc furnace, and the team had just 24 hours and six melts to complete the stunt successfully.
Despite extreme heat and powerful electromagnetic fields surrounding the furnace, the Figure 02 units continued executing their AI policies right up until entry, though some cameras and electronic components failed under the conditions. Figure has stressed that the resulting footage, featuring Schwarzenegger himself on-site, was not AI-generated β the robots genuinely jumped into the furnace under their own control. The metal recovered from the melted robots was shipped back to the United States, where Figure is machining it into a limited series of commemorative artifacts for collectors and enthusiasts.
The announcement has generated significant buzz across social media and the robotics community, with reactions ranging from admiration for the creative marketing to concern about waste. Industry observers noted that Figure successfully turned a routine fleet retirement into a viral brand moment while efficiently solving a real disposal problem. Some critics questioned the environmental implications of melting down functional hardware, though Figure countered that secure destruction of proprietary components was a genuine security requirement. Market analysts have pointed out that the stunt reinforced Figure's image as one of the most inventive companies in the humanoid robotics sector.
Only a small number of Figure 02 units remain in storage at Figure's headquarters, and most of the fleet has now been permanently destroyed. Looking ahead, attention will shift to Figure 03 production ramping and early development on Figure 04, which Adcock has described as a significant leap forward. The commemorative steel artifacts will likely become coveted collector's items among robotics enthusiasts. As humanoid robots become more common in workplaces and homes, companies like Figure will increasingly need to develop creative, secure strategies for decommissioning aging fleets β and this molten steel retirement may well set a memorable precedent.
