UPS Seeks Partnership with Figure AI for Humanoid Robotics

United Parcel Service (UPS) is reportedly in ongoing discussions with robotics startup Figure AI to potentially deploy humanoid robots within its logistics operations. The partnership, which began discussions last year, aims to enhance UPS's efficiency by integrating Figure AI's advanced robots, though the specific roles these robots would play have not yet been finalized. Figure AI's humanoid robots, powered by its Helix Vision-Language-Action model, have demonstrated the ability to pick and sort parcels, suggesting potential for a variety of logistics tasks. UPS has stated it regularly explores new technologies, including robotics, but has not confirmed details about the potential partnership. This move aligns with UPS's broader automation strategy, which already includes robotic arms and AI-powered sorting technologies in its facilities. The collaboration could mark a significant step in adopting humanoid robotics within large-scale logistics networks.