February 18, 2025

Beep boop

Hi there, 

Scroll for fresh tech drama. 

But first: it was a big week for humanoid robotics. 

We dive in with 3 key trends using the CB Insights platform. 

1. Big tech lays the groundwork for humanoids
2. AI developments fuel 2024 deal surge 
3. Commercial traction builds

1) Big tech lays the groundwork for humanoids

Just in the last week:

• Google joined Apptronik’s $350M Series A funding round. 
• Meta formed a new unit under its Reality Labs hardware division to develop humanoids. 
• Reports surfaced that Apple is exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robots. 

Tech leaders are aggressively pursuing the humanoids space as we highlighted last year (table below).

Humanoids are complicated to build and deploy, requiring substantial sensor processing, advanced control, and more.

Tech giants see this as an opportunity to flex their software muscle and deep pockets.

2) AI developments fuel 2024 deal surge 

In 2024, the space recorded 40 deals, up 43% YoY as better AI models accelerated humanoids’ development. 

Figure’s $675M Series B (backed by the investment arms of Microsoft, OpenAI, Intel, Nvidia, Amazon, and Samsung) accounted for the majority of funding. 

The company announced earlier this month that it was backing out of its OpenAI partnership in favor of leveraging its own in-house models. 

Track 1,400+ tech markets on CB Insights. Explore them with a free trial here.

3) Commercial traction builds

Humanoids are still in the early adoption phase, but leading companies have started their first pilots.

For example: 

• BMW successfully completed a pilot of Figure’s robots at one of its plants in 2024.
• Apptronik signed agreements with Mercedes-Benz and GXO Logistics in 2024.
• China’s UBTECH signed an agreement with Foxconn in January 2025 to deploy humanoids in iPhone assembly.  

CB Insights customers can track top players in the market, their commercial maturity, and business relationships here.

TLDR — Tech loves drama, right?

• Okay, Zoomer: Leaked audio of JPMorgan’s CEO Jamie Dimon shredding remote work and defending the company’s RTO policy during an employee town hall went viral (“f***ing Zoom”). He said the thing out loud that lots of founders/CEOs think. My prediction: In 5 years, the majority of non-customer-facing white-collar work will be: 1. AI completed (or heavily augmented); 2. In-office; OR 3. Done by offshore talent (who will be on f***ing Zoom).
   
• VC burns: Founders Fund partner Delian Asparouhov posted on X on Monday about his recent surge in deal activity. VC Chamath Palihapitiya responded by warning about the importance of “time diversity” in investing. Delian shot back “thankfully not too many 2021 SPAC shares in my portfolio." The subtext: Chamath was a major figure in the ill-fated 2021 SPAC boom.

Source: X

• Food fight!: Uber is suing DoorDash, claiming it strong-arms restaurants into exclusive deals and punishes those working with Uber Direct. The lawsuit says DoorDash controls 90% of first-party delivery for major chains and bullies businesses with higher fees or demotion. DoorDash calls the claims “unfounded.”
   
• Mission drift: Palantir execs Alex Karp and Nicholas Zamiska are calling out Silicon Valley for prioritizing consumer apps over major societal challenges. In a new book, they call for a renewed partnership between tech companies and the government to drive meaningful innovation rather than focusing on apps for shopping, food delivery, and other “whims of late-capitalist culture.”

I love you.

Anand

@asanwal 

Co-Founder & Exec Chair

P.S. Have you applied yet for the 2025 AI 100? Submit your startup’s application here by March 13. 

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