December 06, 2025 – In a social‑media tease that’s electrifying the robotics world, Brett Adcock, CEO of Californian startup Figure AI, shared a short video showing the company’s latest humanoid robot running with remarkable speed and agility.

According to the video and his updates, the robot — believed to be the model known as Figure 03 — isn’t just walking quickly but running above typical humanoid speeds, with reported movement at as fast as 6.5mph (about 10.5km/h) in short bursts.

What makes this teaser significant is not just the speed, but the smoothness and fluidity of motion shown. Both feet leaving the ground simultaneously — the technical definition of running — was clear in the clip, demonstrating advances in dynamic balance and control that many earlier humanoids have struggled to achieve.

Why It Matters

Humanoid robots historically have struggled with dynamic locomotion. Many designs can walk, but fast, stable running is much harder to engineer due to balance, joint coordination, and power delivery challenges. If Figure’s machine can truly run smoothly, it represents a meaningful step forward in dynamic physical capability for robots shaped like humans.

This progress comes amid a broader wave of interest in humanoid robotics, where companies aim not just to create impressive demos but robots capable of performing useful work in everyday environments — from logistics and warehouse operations to household tasks.

The Bigger Picture

Figure AI’s work reflects its wider ambition to build increasingly capable general‑purpose humanoid robots. Their Helix AI platform — designed to enable navigation, perception, and manipulation in unpredictable real‑world settings — underpins the 03 model’s performance.

CEO Brett Adcock has previously spoken about advancing humanoid capabilities rapidly and outpacing traditional expectations for robot development timelines, suggesting robots like this could soon perform a wide range of real tasks.