Figure AI Faces Lawsuit After Former Safety Chief Claims He Was Fired for Warning About Robot Risks

 Figure AI, a fast-rising humanoid robot startup backed by some of the biggest names in tech, is facing a lawsuit after its former head of safety alleged that he was fired for warning executives about the potentially lethal power of the company’s robots.

Former Safety Lead Says Robot Could Fracture a Human Skull

According to reports from CNBC and other U.S. outlets, Robert Gründel, who previously served as the company’s safety chief, filed suit against Figure AI in federal court in Northern California on November 21.

Gründel claims he discovered that one of the company’s humanoid robots was capable of exerting enough force to fracture a human skull. He says he submitted detailed documentation and formally warned CEO Brett Adcock and senior engineer Kyle Edelberg. Gründel also cited an incident in which a malfunctioning robot created a gouge roughly 0.6 centimeters deep in the steel door of a refrigerator.

His legal team argues that shortly after raising these concerns, Gründel was dismissed in September. They say he also objected to what he described as the company’s decision to abandon a documented safety plan immediately after closing an investor funding round, a move he believes could be interpreted as fraudulent.

Company Rejects Allegations and Says Performance Was the Issue

Figure AI denies the claims. In an email to CNBC, a spokesperson said Gründel was terminated due to poor performance and called his allegations false.

Gründel alleges that executives viewed his warnings as an obstacle and justified his dismissal by citing what he describes as a vague shift in business direction. He is seeking financial damages along with punitive damages and has requested a jury trial.

A Start-Up Backed by Tech’s Most Influential Investors

Gründel’s attorneys say the case may become one of the first significant whistleblower disputes involving humanoid robot safety. They argue that the lawsuit could expose broader risks associated with rushing advanced robotics into commercial use.

Figure AI has quickly become one of the most closely watched robotics startups. Early last year, the company secured a major funding round from high-profile backers including Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. In a follow-up round this September, the company’s valuation soared to an estimated 39 billion dollars, roughly fifteen times its valuation from the previous year.

Gründel’s lawsuit now puts a new level of scrutiny on the company at a moment when interest in humanoid robotics is at a global high.

by Song-a Choiㅣchoesonga627@gmail.com