Humanoid robots outnumber human employees:’Figure AI’ hiring robots faster than humans, CEO says, ‘This is just the beginning’

For years, experts have debated whether robots and artificial intelligence would eventually replace human workers. Now, one company says that the future may already be arriving.
Robotics startup ‘Figure AI’ has announced that, for the first time, the number of robots working at the company has surpassed the number of human employees. The announcement has reignited discussions about automation, jobs, and how quickly humanoid robots are becoming part of the workforce. Robots now outnumber humans at Figure AI Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock recently shared a chart on X showing a major shift inside the company. According to the graph, Figure AI now has more robots than human workers. Adcock celebrated the milestone by writing, “For the first time, robots now outnumber humans at Figure.”
The chart compared the company’s human workforce and robot population between 2022 and 2026. While human hiring increased steadily over the years, the number of robots remained very low until early 2025. Everything changed once the company began producing robots at scale. Robot numbers are growing rapidly The graph shows that Figure AI’s robot count surged after manufacturing started. By the end of 2025, the company reportedly had more than 100 robots. Just a few months later, that number had climbed dramatically, reaching around 740 robots by the second quarter of 2026. Human employee numbers also increased during the same period, rising to roughly 650 workers. However, robots are being added much faster than people, creating a gap that continues to widen. If the current trend continues, the number of robots at Figure AI could grow far beyond its human workforce in the coming years. Also read: Beware of fake loan apps: Government released list of fake loan apps, be careful while downloading and taking loans

CEO shares image of robot fleet In another post, Adcock shared a photograph showing dozens of humanoid robots packed inside boxes, seemingly ready for deployment. Alongside the image, he posted a simple message: “Power On.” The post quickly gained attention online, with many users viewing it as a glimpse into how workplaces may look in the future. Why this matters Figure AI’s announcement comes at a time when businesses around the world are investing heavily in AI and automation. Many technology companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and reduce costs. At the same time, concerns about job displacement continue to grow. Several major tech firms have reduced their workforce over the past few years while increasing their investments in AI technologies. This has led to ongoing debates about whether AI will create more jobs than it replaces. Some industry leaders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, believe humanoid robots could eventually help create a future of abundance by performing repetitive and physically demanding tasks. What is Figure AI? Figure AI is a robotics startup focused on building humanoid robots designed to perform real-world tasks. The company gained widespread attention recently after staging a “Man vs Machine” challenge. In the experiment, its Figure 03 humanoid robot competed against a human intern during an eight-hour package-sorting shift. The human worker ultimately completed the task more effectively and won the challenge. However, Brett Adcock suggested that the victory may only be temporary. At the time, he predicted that robots would continue improving rapidly and said, “This is the last time a human will ever win.” Also read: Think before you tap ‘Allow’ to continue: Microphone permissions can put your privacy at risk if granted; here’s when to say yes and no

The race to build humanoid workers Figure AI is not the only company working on advanced humanoid robots. Tesla is developing its Optimus robot and plans to deploy it commercially in the future. Meanwhile, Chinese robotics companies such as Unitree and Agibot have also made significant progress in recent years. As competition intensifies, experts expect humanoid robots to become more capable, more affordable, and more common in industries ranging from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and retail.