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Figure, a U.S.-based robotics company, decommissioned its older AI robots by dropping them into a 75-ton vat of molten steel. The company stated that maintaining its F.02 fleet was no longer practical because its newer F.03 models are increasing in numbers. However, Figure noted that disassembling the older units is difficult and time-consuming due to proprietary technology inside them. Sending the robots to a third party for recycling would risk exposing this technology, while keeping an internal team occupied would divert workers from developing the upcoming F.04 model.

Company CEO Brett Adcock posted on X seeking ideas for a proper sendoff after realizing the logistical challenges. He received an unexpected suggestion from actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who advised melting the robots down. Figure trained its robots to jump from the second story of its office building onto an airbag before transporting them to a foundry in Finland. The facility offered 24 hours and six melts to complete the process, requiring precise movements similar to those used by stunt artists to ensure the robots survived the extreme heat and electromagnetic fields generated by high-voltage electricity flowing through graphite electrodes.

The decommissioning was successful, with the F.02 robots functioning as intended until they sank into the metal. The resulting bars were shipped back to the U.S. and machined into limited-edition memorabilia. Most of the F.02 fleet has now been recycled, freeing up space for newer models and preventing proprietary technology from falling into competitors’ hands. One robot was filmed holding a thumbs-up sign as it melted, marking a real-life "Terminator-style" ending for the F.02 generation.