A former engineer for Figure AI filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming he was unlawfully terminated after warning executives about product safety as ‘bots ‘could fracture a human skull’
Robots are now powerful enough to fracture human skulls, an AI whistleblower has warned. Robert Gruendel was principal robotic safety engineer at Figure AI, an Nvidia-backed developer of humanoid robots.
But he is suing the company after allegations he was wrongfully terminated, after warning bosses the company’s robots “were powerful enough to fracture a human skull”.
The suit was filed on Friday in California, US, in which Gruendel is described as a whistleblower. He had reportedly claimed the robots hold lethal capabilities and one had “already carved a quarter-inch gash into a steel refrigerator door during a malfunction”.
It then went to ask bosses not to “downgrade” a “safety road map” he had been asked to present to two prospective investors who ended up funding the company, CNBC reports.
He also warned a “product safety plan which contributed to their decision to invest” had been “gutted” the same month the company had closed the investment round. He also alleges his concerns were treated as “obstacles, not obligations”.
It claims he was fired in September just days after raising the safety concerns. Two months before that, Figure AI was valued at $39billion (£30billion) jumping up 15-fold from early 2024.
That happened after the company had appealed to investors including Amazon chief Jeff Bezos, Nvidia and Microsoft. Gruendel wants economic, compensatory and punitive damages and is also demanding a jury trial.
A spokesperson for Figure AI said the individual was terminated for poor performance and denies his allegations, claiming they are false. Gruendel’s attorney said: “California law protects employees who report unsafe practices.
“This case involves important and emerging issues, and may be among the first whistleblower cases related to the safety of humanoid robots.
“Mr. Gruendel looks forward to the judicial process exposing the clear danger this rush to market approach presents to the public.”
AI has progressed rapidly in recent years becoming a key feature of everyday life. Astonishing sums of money have been invested into AI, prompting fears of a financial crash similar to that of 2008.
Tools like ChatGPT, which launched in 2022, have established themselves as essential tools for businesses and individuals. But the growth has also sparked global alarm about the future of employment, given fears it could replace jobs.
Daily Star has approached Figure AI for a response.
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