You wouldn’t think that being able to stride through the White House’s East Wing without stumbling would make headlines. But as Melania Trump made her way down the red carpet lined hallway to a classical music arrangement, the First Lady was flanked not by the typical Secret Service agent you’d expect to see on presidential grounds, but by a humanoid robot.
Yes, robots are in the White House now.
The room was filled with other spouses of world leaders and tech executives, gathered for the second day of the administration’s latest AI summit, part of the “Fostering the Future Together” initiative. But details from the public-private networking opp paled in comparison to the event’s AI-powered special guest: A robot named simply “Figure 3.”
Figure 3 was created by American robotics company Figure, a former partner of Trump backer OpenAI (the arrangement between the AI robotics start up and the AI giant ended last year). TIME named the robot one of the best inventions of 2025, and it’s perhaps the closest we’ve gotten to a real world robot butler. Figure 3 can do household chores like fold towels, load the dishwasher, and pick up detritus — whether or not its done efficiently is debatable.
Figure 3 spoke to White House guests in a young, vocal-fry inflected female voice, similar to the rest of its robotic and AI-powered compatriots, and told the crowd that it was an “honor” to be given a prime speaking engagement at the event.
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“I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education,” Figure 3 told the room, right after it greeted the space in 11 languages, reported CNN.
The robot didn’t stumble once. And for those in the know, that’s huge.
The goal of Trump’s Fostering the Future Together is to supercharge “advanced technology, including artificial intelligence (Al), to assist children, educators, and parents, while also protecting them from online dangers.” This week’s summit was convened to connect world leaders (or, in most cases, their spouses) with private tech partners, aligned with Trump’s “Be Best” educational initiative, previously launched during President Trump’s first term.
In her brief appearance, Trump suggested the future would be filled with AI-powered robot teachers like Figure 3 — a pitch that may be bolstered the of a current wave of AI-only schools peddled by Big Tech and Silicon Valley elite, but has yet to be backed by learning science.
“The future of AI is personified,” said Trump. “It will be formed in the shape of humans. Very soon, artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility.”
