The American technology company Figure, known for developing humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence, has carried out a dramatic dismantling of its outdated F.02 robots. This involved training them to leap into a steel melting furnace, a concept proposed by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to reports. Figure revealed that the decision to destroy a significant portion of its F.02 fleet was aimed at protecting intellectual property and expediting the production of the next model. However, disassembling the robots was deemed too time-consuming, prompting the company to seek suggestions from internet users.
Unexpectedly, the response came from Schwarzenegger, who suggested that the robots be melted down. Following this, the company contacted him, and once he expressed willingness to participate, plans were set into motion, the company stated in a press release. This drastic measure echoes the iconic final scene from “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” where Schwarzenegger’s character, the T-800 robot, requests to be thrown into molten steel to destroy its technology and save humanity’s future.
Finding the Right Steel Mill for Robot Destruction
Figure reached out to various steel mills in the United States and Mexico; however, none agreed to melt down robots equipped with lithium batteries due to potential risks to their costly facilities. Eventually, the company located a foundry willing to take on the challenge, situated in Imatra, Finland. Engineers from Figure trained the F.02 robots to jump from the second floor of their San Jose headquarters onto large inflatable beds that simulated a molten steel vat. For this exercise, they developed a new artificial intelligence model that allowed the robots to leap accurately, referencing the movements of stunt performers from action film scenes. Once in Finland, the robots completed their task flawlessly, despite the extreme heat and electromagnetic fields of the foundry’s 75-ton electric arc furnace.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Joins the Action
A video featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger shows a robot grasping a chain to descend into the melting pot—mirroring his character’s actions in the film—while several others perform acrobatic jumps into the crucible. The company stated that almost all robots of this model were destroyed, except for a few that will be retained, and plans to produce commemorative items from the metal bars resulting from the melting process, which will be sold. Despite being specialized in AI-based robotics, the American technology firm clarified that no AI technology was used in the making of the promotional video. “With the help of Arnold Schwarzenegger and our filming team, we created something truly extraordinary. In an era of AI-generated images, it’s important to clarify: we trained robots to jump autonomously, sent them to Finland, and made them jump into a molten steel vat,” the company remarked.
