“美国宇树”高管被裁，只因警告“产品安全性”？

Core Insights - Figure AI, a humanoid robot startup, is facing a lawsuit from its former Chief Product Safety Officer, Robert Gruendel, who claims he was wrongfully terminated after raising safety concerns about the company's robots [1][2][3] Group 1: Lawsuit Details - Gruendel alleges that he warned executives about the robots' lethal capabilities, including an incident where a robot caused a quarter-inch crack in a steel refrigerator door during a malfunction [1][2] - The lawsuit seeks economic, compensatory, and punitive damages, along with a jury trial [1] - Gruendel claims that his concerns were viewed as an obstacle rather than a responsibility by the company, which led to his dismissal under the pretext of a vague "business direction change" [3] Group 2: Company Valuation and Investment - Figure AI's valuation has surged to $39 billion, a 15-fold increase since early 2024, following a funding round led by Parkway Venture Capital [1][4] - Notable investors include Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Microsoft, indicating strong market interest and confidence in the company's potential [4] - Gruendel's attorney highlights that California law protects employees who report unsafe practices, suggesting that this case may be one of the first whistleblower cases related to humanoid robot safety [4] Group 3: Industry Context - The humanoid robot market is still in its early stages, with competitors like Tesla and Boston Dynamics also pursuing advancements in this field [5] - A report from Morgan Stanley indicates that market adoption could accelerate in the 2030s, with the market potentially exceeding $5 trillion by 2050 [5]