Whistleblower sues Figure AI, claims the startup’s robots could ‘fracture a human skull’

Figure AI is facing severe backlash after a whistleblower lawsuit accused the fast-rising robotics startup of downplaying serious safety risks.

The case centres on claims that Figure AI’s humanoid robots were powerful enough to “fracture a human skull,” warnings allegedly dismissed by senior leadership.

Filed by former principal safety engineer Robert Gruendel, the suit has alleged that he was fired shortly after presenting detailed concerns about the dangerous force capabilities of the machines.

According to the complaint, Gruendel told Figure AI executives that one robot had already sliced a quarter-inch gash into a steel refrigerator door during a malfunction, an incident he believed required immediate attention, not minimisation.

The timing is notable: Figure AI was valued at $39 billion just weeks before the dispute, after securing major backing from investors including Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Microsoft.

Gruendel also claimed that the company “gutted” its safety roadmap during fundraising, potentially misleading investors about its readiness to scale.

A spokesperson for Figure AI dismissed the allegations as “falsehoods,” insisting Gruendel was let go solely for poor performance.

As the humanoid robotics race accelerates, this case puts Figure AI under intense scrutiny and raises fresh questions about how quickly the industry is pushing machines that may be far stronger than humans expected.