Figure’s Dramatic F.02 Decommissioning and the State of Robotics

• Figure AI retired its F.02 fleet by instructing robots to jump into a 75-ton vat of molten steel in Finland, a stunt suggested by Arnold Schwarzenegger that garnered over 1.8 million views.
• DoorDash received FAA Part 135 air carrier certification to operate "DoorDash Air," aiming to use drones for mid-distance orders (3–5 miles) while humans handle shorter deliveries; drones averaged 25-minute delivery times in 2025.
• Anthropic reports that existing robots can perform 74% of physical tasks but only cover 34% of US working hours, with economic viability limited to just 0.3% of tasks currently.
• Economic adoption of robotics is projected to take approximately 40 years to reach 10% task coverage, despite driving and warehouse jobs facing high exposure to automation.
• Notable industry updates include MIT’s living muscle robot, Amazon’s $100M Indiana manufacturing hub investment by 2028, and the Pentagon’s new Autonomous Warfare Command.

Figure AI faced a logistical challenge in decommissioning its F.02 humanoid robots while ensuring proprietary hardware did not fall into unauthorized hands. Rather than opting for a slow manual teardown process, the company executed a dramatic disposal method. Following a suggestion from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Figure trained the older F.02 units to autonomously leap into a 75-ton vat of molten steel at a foundry in Finland. This event was captured on video and went viral on social media, accumulating over 1.8 million views. The move coincides with the expansion of Figure’s newer F.03 fleet, signaling a transition to next-generation hardware while managing end-of-life protocols for older models.

In the logistics sector, DoorDash achieved a significant regulatory breakthrough by obtaining FAA Part 135 air carrier certification. This approval allows the company to operate its own drone delivery fleet, named DoorDash Air, alongside its existing marketplace platform. The strategy involves using drones primarily for mid-distance orders ranging from 3 to 5 miles, which typically slow down human "Dashers." Human drivers will continue to manage shorter, more complex deliveries that require fine motor skills or navigation difficulties. According to company data, these drone deliveries averaged 25 minutes in 2025, highlighting the efficiency gains potential in this specific distance bracket.

Despite rapid technological progress, a new report by Anthropic highlights significant economic barriers to widespread robotic adoption. While existing robots can technically perform 74% of physical tasks, they currently handle work representing only 34% of US working hours, largely confined to controlled environments. Jobs in driving and warehousing face the highest exposure to automation, whereas nursing and repair roles remain comparatively protected due to complexity and environmental variability.

The primary obstacle remains cost. Robots are currently cheaper than human labor for only 0.3% of tasks. The report estimates it may take 40 years for this figure to reach 10%, suggesting that economic viability is a long-term horizon rather than an immediate reality. This data provides a crucial counterpoint to the viral enthusiasm surrounding humanoid robots, reminding stakeholders that financial feasibility lags behind technical demonstration.

Beyond these major headlines, several other developments are shaping the robotics landscape:

1. Diplomatic Robotics: At a Chinese Embassy reception in Riyadh, two Chinese-made robots wearing traditional attire performed the Najdi Ardah, a UNESCO-recognized ceremonial sword dance. This display utilized humanoid engineering to facilitate cultural diplomacy between Saudi and Chinese officials.
2. Domestic Utility: Dyna Robotics demonstrated its Taku robot performing a complete laundry workflow in an hour-long uncut demo. The robot loaded machines, emptied dryers, folded towels, sorted stacks by size, and stocked shelves without human assistance. Mastering the entire workflow aims to make robots economical for hotels and laundromats.
3. Infrastructure Maintenance: A drone was filmed pressure-washing the glass façade of SpaceX’s Starbase launch-control building two days before Flight 14. The drone cleared sightlines for monitoring teams, contributing to Starship’s first mission to sustain orbit and deploy operational satellites.
4. Biological Robotics: MIT engineers developed a wafer-thin robot that swims using living muscle cells and light steering, pointing toward softer bots for delicate aquatic tasks.
5. Military and Industrial Expansion: The Pentagon created a new Autonomous Warfare Command to scale AI, drones, and robotics across the US military. Meanwhile, Amazon announced plans to invest over $100M in an Indiana manufacturing hub by 2028 to boost warehouse robotics production. Tesla is reportedly building hundreds of Optimus robots weekly, though generalization and reliability issues limit their real-world factory use.

In the consumer space, Agari introduced the AI Smart Cooker, a countertop robot that combines sous vide and grilling capabilities. The device uses AI to scan food, cooking under pressure in one-third the time of traditional methods. It claims to deliver a perfect steak sear in under 60 seconds. Additionally, researchers at ETH Zurich demonstrated a disembodied robotic hand using reinforcement learning to teach itself to balance and walk on its fingertips. This off-the-shelf hand, equipped with a battery and onboard computer, can traverse surfaces like tile and grass while playing keyboard-controlled games, showcasing advanced dexterity without a full humanoid body.