Figure AI Melts Obsolete Robot Fleet in Dramatic Decommissioning Event
Figure, a robotics company, disposed of its outdated F.02 robot fleet by having them jump into a 75-ton furnace of molten steel rather than undertaking costly disassembly of proprietary hardware. The company trained its robots to leap from a building onto an airbag before being incinerated at a foundry in Finland, completing the process in six melting cycles. The creative decommissioning was inspired by a suggestion from Arnold Schwarzenegger on social media.
Figure faced a practical challenge when its F.02 robot generation became obsolete while newer F.03 and F.04 models entered production. Traditional disassembly proved impractical due to proprietary components that posed intellectual property risks if transferred elsewhere, while reassigning staff to handle manual dismantling would divert resources from development priorities. The company's creative solution emerged after CEO Brett Adcock solicited suggestions online, receiving an endorsement from Arnold Schwarzenegger to pursue melting as a disposal method.
The actual execution required substantial planning and precision work. Engineers trained the robots to execute controlled jumps from a building onto landing cushions before transport to a Finnish foundry. The facility completed six separate melting cycles over 24 hours to process the fleet, with recycled steel subsequently converted into commemorative items, transforming industrial waste into company memorabilia while safeguarding proprietary technology from competitors.
This decommissioning approach could influence how robotics companies manage obsolete hardware as production cycles accelerate. The method may appeal to other firms wrestling with proprietary disposal challenges, potentially establishing new recycling pathways for advanced equipment. However, the spectacle-driven approach and resource intensity might limit adoption to larger corporations with marketing incentives. The story could also shape public perceptions of AI safety, depending on interpretation—either as responsible technology management or as casual treatment of increasingly capable machines.