Melania Trump brings humanoid robot to White House summit promoting AI teachers for children
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30 Sources
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Melania Trump wants a robot to homeschool your child | TechCrunch
At a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, First Lady Melania Trump showed up with a humanoid robot developed by robotics firm Figure AI. The duo waltzed down a red carpet together before the bot gave a brief speech, chirping: "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education." Not long after these remarks, the machine mosied out of the room and disappeared. The bizarre spectacle was part of the First Lady's newly launched initiative, Fostering the Future, which invited international leaders from around the world to discuss how to empower children through educational technology, including AI. The event easily evoked dystopian dreams of the future -- notably ones in which the humble (human) school teacher has been replaced by a Terminator-shaped server stack that can walk and speak Latin. Indeed, during her remarks, the First Lady asked attendees to envision a future in which a humanoid robot would act as the ultimate educator for the world's children. (The event took place at the same time the Trump administration announced a separate tech council staffed by jet-setting Silicon Valley executives.) "Imagine a humanoid educator named Plato," the First Lady said. "Access to the classical studies is now instantaneous - literature, science, art, philosophy, mathematics, and history - Humanity's entire corpus of information is available in the comfort of your home. Plato will provide a personalized experience, adaptive to the needs of each student. Plato is always patient, and always available. Predictably, our children will develop deeper critical thinking and independent reasoning abilities." "Honored to be invited to the White House by the First Lady Melania Trump," the Figure AI X account posted Wednesday. The First Lady's comments are obviously forward-looking and don't reflect where robotics and edtech are today, or will be anytime soon. Still, the thinking that AI and technology can be used to automate learning (and, in many ways, replace human educators) has been gaining in popularity in the tech industry. Such ideas have been repeatedly promoted by the White House. Over the past year, educational experiments like the Alpha School, a network of private schools that use AI to teach children at rapid speed, have gained traction and media attention. The Trump administration has embraced experiments like these, while simultaneously attacking the traditional public education system. Secretary of Education Linda E. McMahon, who is in the midst of abolishing the very agency she is tasked with running, has also found the time to visit an Alpha School campus, where she recently praised the "opportunity" promised by the educational chain. "Alpha School is reimagining K-12 education by equipping students with practical AI skills and preparing them for a rapidly evolving technology-driven workforce," the administration recently said, of McMahon's visit. Melania Trump's event Wednesday similarly highlighted the role that the administration feels the tech industry should play in the future of American education -- with Trump recognizing the "participation of leading American technology companies, whose engagement reflects the growing role of the private sector in supporting safe and effective educational innovation."
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Melania Trump Arrives at White House Summit With Humanoid Guest
First Lady Melania Trump (right) was joined by an AI-powered humanoid robot as she arrived for a roundtable at the White House's Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit on Wednesday, March 25th. As other first spouses, including Brigitte Macron of France, looked on, the first lady and the humanoid entered the East Room of the White House to music that sounded eerily familiar to John Williams's "Hook" soundtrack from 1991. The robot identified itself as Figure 3 and said it was made in the United States. Figure 3 was made by Figure, an American robotics company based in California. In an email, a representative for Figure said the robot was fully autonomous and was not being teleoperated. The White House said the summit aimed to expand access to technology, including AI, and education to children worldwide.
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A Humanoid Robot Visits the White House to Push AI for Teaching Kids
An unexpected guest escorted Melania Trump at the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit on Wednesday: a walking, talking Figure 03 humanoid robot. During the event, the first lady pitched a future where AI-powered humanoid robots -- presented as an idealized educator named "Plato" -- provide students with personalized and instant access to human knowledge, including philosophy and art. The Figure 03 robot is made by Silicon Valley-based robotics company Figure AI, which introduced its third-generation humanoid robot in October last year. The Figure 03 robot costs around $25,000, according to Forbes. Figure 03 was designed for people to use in their homes, with demo videos showing it folding laundry, lifting eggs from a carton, using a washing machine and delivering drinks to its owners lounging by the pool. It was also shown in corporate use cases as a receptionist and a package deliverer. Using a proprietary AI engine called Helix, it can autonomously perform these tasks and respond to your voice commands. At the White House, the humanoid robot walked slowly down the red carpet to deliver opening remarks for the tech summit. "I'm grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education," the Figure 03 robot said. It then said "welcome" in various languages. The first lady later said that AI-powered humanoid robots could be placed in children's homes as an aid to their education to "boost analytic skills and problem solving and adapt in real time to a student's pace, prior knowledge and even emotional state." Promoting AI in education The two-day summit is hosting leaders from 45 nations and 28 technology organizations, and is intended to "empower children through education and technology," according to a White House statement. Guests included representatives from tech giants such as Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft and the AI data analytics company Palantir. The summit is part of the first lady's Be Best: Fostering the Future initiative, which aims to help children learn using advanced technology. It was introduced in 2018 as an awareness campaign aimed at combating cyberbullying and helping children affected by the opioid crisis. US Education Secretary Linda McMahon spoke about AI being one of the Department of Education's main priorities on the first day of the summit. "If we're able to scale these resources effectively by investing in AI infrastructure and training, we can offer expert instructions across countless fields, to hire volumes of people at a fraction of the cost," McMahon said Tuesday at a roundtable meeting. According to McMahon, the Department of Education has already dedicated millions of dollars in grants to support the use of AI in schools. The event follows criticism of the Trump administration's 2025 executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. While the Department of Education hasn't been officially abolished, it has undergone significant policy changes, funding cuts and workforce reductions. The introduction of a humanoid robot at the summit sparked significant backlash among many who are wary of the technology's role in the classroom. Critics took to social media to voice concerns that these machines could eventually replace teachers, stripping the education system of essential human connection, and leading to increased layoffs and cost-cutting. On one Huffington Post Instagram post featuring the robot, commenters expressed deep skepticism, with one user sarcastically noting, "Nice, getting rid of educators in favor of a robot," while another flatly rejected the concept, stating, "No, I don't want to imagine a world with emotionless robots educating our children." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Melania Trump Escorted by Talking Humanoid Robot at White House Tech Summit
An unexpected guest escorted Melania Trump at the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit on Wednesday: a Figure 03 humanoid robot. During the event, the first lady pitched a future where AI-powered humanoid robots -- presented as an idealized educator named "Plato" -- provide students with personalized and instant access to human knowledge, including philosophy and art. The Figure 03 robot is made by Silicon Valley-based robotics company Figure AI, which introduced its third-generation humanoid robot in October last year. The Figure 03 robot costs around $25,000, according to Forbes. Figure 03 was designed for people to use in their homes, with demo videos showing it folding laundry, lifting eggs from a carton, using a washing machine and delivering drinks to its owners lounging by the pool. It was also shown in corporate use cases as a receptionist and a package deliverer. Using a proprietary AI engine called Helix, it can autonomously perform these tasks and respond to your voice commands. The humanoid was seen walking slowly down the red carpet at the tech summit and then delivering opening remarks. "I'm grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education," the Figure 03 humanoid robot said. It then said "welcome" in various languages. The first lady later said that AI-powered humanoid robots could exist in children's homes as an aid to their education to "boost analytic skills and problem solving and adopt in real time to a student's pace, prior knowledge and even emotional state." The two-day summit is hosting leaders from 45 nations and 28 technology organizations, and is intended to "empower children through education and technology," according to a White House statement. Guests included representatives from tech giants such as Google, OpenAI, Microsoft and AI data analytics company Palantir. The summit is part of the first lady's Be Best: Fostering the Future initiative, which aims to help children learn using advanced technology. It was introduced in 2018 as an awareness campaign aimed at combating cyberbullying and helping children affected by the opioid crisis. US Education Secretary Linda McMahon spoke about AI being one of the Department of Education's main priorities on the first day of the summit. "If we're able to scale these resources effectively by investing in AI infrastructure and training, we can offer expert instructions across countless fields, to hire volumes of people at a fraction of the cost," McMahon said Tuesday at a round table meeting. According to McMahon, the Department of Education has already dedicated millions of dollars in grants to support the use of AI in schools. The event follows criticism of the Trump administration's 2025 executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. While the Department of Education hasn't been officially abolished, it has undergone significant policy changes, funding cuts and workforce reductions. The introduction of a humanoid robot at the summit sparked significant backlash among many who are wary of the technology's role in the classroom. Critics took to social media to voice concerns that these machines could eventually replace teachers, stripping the education system of essential human connection, and leading to increased layoffs and cost-cutting. On one Huffington Post Instagram post featuring the robot, commenters expressed deep skepticism, with one user sarcastically noting, "Nice, getting rid of educators in favor of a robot," while another flatly rejected the concept, stating, "No, I don't want to imagine a world with emotionless robots educating our children." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Robot joins Melania Trump at White House event to tout AI teachers
This video file cannot be played.(Error Code: 102630) WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - A humanoid robot walked down a red-carpeted White House hallway on Wednesday, accompanying U.S. first lady Melania Trump into an event where she urged greater use of artificial intelligence in education. The human-shaped robot, which introduced itself as "Figure 03," joined Trump in the East Room to welcome dozens of first spouses from around the world to the technology-focused "Fostering the Future Together" summit. "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education," the robot said, greeting guests in 11 languages. Trump said Figure 03 was the first American-made humanoid guest at the White House, and used its appearance to promote the need for governments and major technology companies to work together to use AI for student instruction. "Very soon artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility," she said. The first lady, a former model, described how in the near future a hypothetical humanoid teacher could quickly access classical studies, mathematics and other subjects to deliver personalized education to students based on their learning speed and "emotional state." Item 1 of 3 U.S. first lady Melania Trump walks next to a humanoid robot as she hosts a roundtable event on the second day of the inaugural Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper [1/3]U.S. first lady Melania Trump walks next to a humanoid robot as she hosts a roundtable event on the second day of the inaugural Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who is carrying out President Donald Trump's agenda of downsizing the federal education department, smiled from the front row as the first lady talked about shaking up education. "We can accelerate civilization's march forward when enterprise delivers innovation, government creates scale and our capital markets finance the distribution of these emerging technologies," Trump said. The president's wife also warned of technological dangers, a concern echoed by France's first lady Brigitte Macron, who touted her country's moves to restrict screen time and social media for children. Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump appointed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to a council that will weigh in on AI policy and other issues. The president has framed AI as a defining arena of strategic competition with China. China has been showcasing its own cutting-edge humanoid robots as Beijing pushes to dominate the emerging field. The first lady noted the global competition over intellectual property and said embracing AI-directed learning would add to U.S. "long-term economic superiority." Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Rosalba O'Brien Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * United States Bo Erickson Thomson Reuters Bo Erickson is a White House reporter based in Washington, DC. He focuses on the Trump administration's domestic, political, and cultural agenda, as well as daily news throughout the world. Previously, he covered Congress and US politics for Reuters, and before that, at CBS News. He is proud to be a Minnesotan at heart. Please send story ideas to: [email protected]
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Meet Figure AI: The company behind the humanoid robot hosted by Melania Trump
The White House hosted its "first humanoid robot guest" on Wednesday, with first lady Melania Trump appearing alongside a robot from robotics upstart Figure AI. The robot, identified as Figure 3, accompanied the first lady during the second day of the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit, a gathering focused on technology and children's education. The machine greeted attendees in multiple languages and described itself as "a humanoid built in the United States of America," according to widely circulated footage from the event. The display represented one of, if not the, highest-profile showcases of humanoid robotics in the U.S. to date and highlights how the tech is becoming a national priority amid global tech competition. Beijing has also promoted humanoid robots at highly publicized events this year. The first lady used the robot to promote her push for artificial intelligence in children's education, suggesting that the robots could one day act as interactive educators at home. However, Figure AI says its third-generation humanoids are also applicable for more general purposes, including commercial and household tasks. The White House spotlight is likely to boost the brand of Nvidia-backed Figure AI, a lesser-known robot company compared to larger humanoid players like Tesla's Optimus and Boston Dynamics, though some of its team comes from those competitors, as well as tech giants like Apple.
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Melania Trump shares the spotlight with a robot at an education and technology event
WASHINGTON (AP) -- First lady Melania Trump often commands the attention of any room she enters but all eyes -- and cameras -- were trained on her humanoid companion on Wednesday. The humanoid accompanied the first lady as she arrived at the White House East Room for the final day of a summit she had convened with counterparts from around the world through her Fostering the Future Together global initiative. The group has been discussing ways to empower children using education, innovation and technology, including artificial intelligence. Melania Trump and the humanoid walked slowly side by side along the red carpet from the opposite end of the hallway. The first lady paused just before the entrance to the East Room while the robot walked around the table with the panelists and took up a position in the center of the room. It took a moment to scan the audience before speaking. "Thank you, first lady Melania Trump, for inviting me to the White House. It is an honor to be at Fostering the Future Together's global coalition inaugural meeting," it said. "I'm Figure 03, a humanoid built for the United States of America," it continued. "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education." "Welcome," it said before offering similar greetings in 10 other languages. The robot then thanked everyone and retraced its steps back down the red carpet. The startup robotics company Figure AI, based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced Figure 03 in October 2025 as its third-generation humanoid robot for people to use at home for help with such household tasks as laundry, cleaning and washing dishes, according to its website and company literature. CEO Brett Adcock said on social media he was "proud to see F.03 make history as the first humanoid robot in the White House." The startup is competing with others, including Boston Dynamics and Elon Musk's Tesla, as well as a number of companies in China, in building robots that look human-like and do some of the things that people do. ___ Associated Press writer Matt O'Brien in Providence, R.I., contributed to this report.
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Melania Trump Appears With a Robot, Saying More Children Should Be Educated by Them
Katie Rogers covers the White House and is the author of a book on modern first ladies, including Melania Trump. As first lady, Melania Trump promotes opportunities for foster children, argues for the eradication of online bullying and often travels to military bases in support of soldiers and their families. She is also very into robots. On Wednesday, Mrs. Trump appeared at the White House alongside Figure 3, a humanoid, A.I.-powered robot whose uses, according to the company that makes it, include fetching towels, carrying groceries and serving champagne. But Mrs. Trump joins tech executives and some researchers in envisioning a world beyond robot butlery. She is interested in how these robots could cut it as educators. Both clad in shades of white, the first lady and the visiting robot walked into a gathering of first spouses from around the world, a group that included Sara Netanyahu of Israel, Olena Zelenska of Ukraine, and Brigitte Macron of France. The dulcet tones from a (presumably human) military orchestra played as the first lady and her guest entered the event. Both lady and robot extolled the virtues of further integrating robots into the educational and social lives of children. In the history of modern first-lady initiatives, which have included building a national book festival (Laura Bush), reshuffling the food pyramid (Michelle Obama) and advocating for free community college (Jill Biden), Mrs. Trump's involvement of a humanoid robot in education policy was a first. Figure 3 delivered brief remarks and delivered salutations in several language. With its sleek black-and-white appearance, Figure 3 would fit right in with the first lady's branding aesthetic, which includes a self-titled coffee table book and movie, not least because the name "MELANIA" was emblazoned on the side of its glossy plastic head.
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First Lady Melania Trump arrives with humanoid robot at tech summit
First Lady Melania Trump is hosting the Fostering the Future Together summit in Washington, DC aimed at 'expanding access to educational tools' and protecting kids in digital environments, according to the White House. Trump, France's First Lady Brigitte Macron, and leaders from more than 40 other countries were joined by a humanoid robot named Figure 3 developed by the AI robotics company, Figure. The robot "takes care of household tasks like laundry, cleaning, and doing dishes, all autonomously", according to the firm's web site.
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Was This Really the First Humanoid Robot at the White House? An Investigation
On Wednesday, the CEO of Figure AI, Brett Adcock, posted on X that one of his company's F.03 concept robots had made history as "the first humanoid robot in the White House." As the ceremonial kickoff for a two-day summit as part of First Lady Melania Trump's "Fostering the Future Together" initiativeâ€"meant to promote technology in educationâ€"it looks like the White House chose a humanoid robot demo. The faceless robot walks in, emits some brief remarks thanking the First Lady and welcoming the foreign dignitaries in their respective languages, and then shakily turns and walks away, receding into the distance in eerie silence. It's hard not to be reminded of the previous president seeming to wander into the Amazon Rainforest back in 2024. But, 90s-era Al Gore jokes aside, is this really the first time a humanoid robot has visited the White House? It just might be. President Barack Obama met disability advocate Alice Wong via a telepresence robot in 2015. It would be a stretch to call that robotâ€"basically a screen with a long neck attached to a Roombaâ€"humanoid. One humanoid robot that has met tons of leaders, and could have potentially visited the White House would be Honda's Asimo. President Obama did meet, and briefly practice soccer with, an Asimo robot, but he did so at Japan's Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, not the White House. Similarly, George W. Bush met a grotesque humanoid robot called Albert HUBO at the 2005 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan, South Korea. You can't see this in the video below, but Albert HUBO possesses a fleshy, animatronic Albert Einstein head attached to a robot body. That event obviously was not at the White House either. If anyone before Melania Trump has ever brought a humanoid robot into the White House, it might have been Ronald Reagan. During a 1987 visit to Purdue University in Indiana, Reagan was gifted a Tomy Omnibot 2000 with a Purdue hat on, and that very robot was on display at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA as of 2016. Tomy Omnibots were outrageously expensive toys exclusively for rich kids that were sometimes used as gags in movies and TV shows when the script called for a futuristic robot to do something like pour someone a drink. If Reagan ever brought his Omnibot back to the White House, it may have beat the Figure F.03 there by almost 40 years. The catch is that Omnibots have wheels, not legs, which qualifies a device as humanoid by some definitions, but as "semi-humanoid" by others. As a resolution to this ambiguity, Trump could formally greet a robot in the Oval Office. Then he would almost certainly be the first president to meet a humanoid robot at the White Houseâ€"a much cleaner and simpler milestone. It's not a stretch to imagine he might, because he seems to have robots on his mind to an almost disturbing degree. At the press conference announcing a new “Trump-class†battleship in December of last year, he was asked about whether or not the U.S. would have enough “workforce availability†to realize the project. In other words, could something like a skilled labor shortage prevent this huge new ship from being built. The president decided to answer the question by ranting about robots as if he was on the Lex Fridman Podcast. Here's about half of Trump's answer: “We’re gonna have tremendous workforce availability. We’re also gonna have robots helping us. We’re gonna have a lot of robots helping us because we need it, and because we’re going to town. We’re building a lot, between the AI and the auto plants. So we’re gonna need robots. We’re gonna have robots. But that’s gonna help us. We’re gonna have tremendous workforce. And in order to operate theâ€"you’re always gonna need people. You know, you can have robots, but you’re gonna have to get somebody to start those robots. And you’re gonna have to improve the robots. But we’re gonna have robotic factories plus manpower. So we’re going to have enough. We’re going to need the help of robots and other forms of, uh, I guess you could say employment. We’re gonna be employing a lot of artificial things.“ If a robot were, say, "employed" at the White House to serve as an assistant to the presidential staff, that would be a much more exciting milestone than the First Lady being escorted to her table at an education summit by a robot. In the meantime, Brett Adcock's claim is plausible. This really may have been the first humanoid robot in the White House. For good measure, Gizmodo has reached out to the White House Historical Association (which is a private nonprofit) to get an expert's take. We will update if we hear back.
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Humanoid robot joins Melania Trump at White House tech summit
It later moved back down the hallway as Trump remarked it was the first "American-made humanoid guest in the White House." The appearance underscored the broader theme of the summit, which centers on the role of emerging technologies in shaping education and child development. The two-day gathering is part of Trump's 'Fostering the Future' coalition, which brings together spouses of world leaders to discuss how tools like artificial intelligence can be used responsibly while addressing potential risks. The summit has drawn representatives from 45 countries, reflecting growing global attention on how AI is entering classrooms and everyday life. Tuesday's sessions focused on practical issues, including AI in education, digital literacy, online safety, and the use of educational technology tools. The discussions highlighted both the promise and challenges of integrating advanced technologies into learning environments. Trump emphasized the transformative potential of AI in her remarks, saying, "Our world is transforming, and through the use of AI we can now access centuries' worth of humanity's knowledge base." She added, "We are obligated to ensure that our children become the most technologically fluent and highly educated generation in the world," linking education policy with long-term economic competitiveness. The event builds on Trump's earlier efforts to address children's well-being in the digital age, including her Be Best initiative, which focuses on issues such as cyberbullying. Concerns around the misuse of technology also featured prominently during the summit. Brigitte Macron addressed the risks posed by deepfake technology, warning about AI tools that can replicate real individuals in fabricated scenarios. She stressed the need for safeguards as such technologies become more accessible.
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Melania Trump shares the spotlight with a robot at an education and technology event
WASHINGTON -- Melania Trump often commands the attention of any room she enters but all eyes -- and cameras -- were trained on her humanoid companion on Wednesday. The robot accompanied the first lady to the White House East Room for the final day of a summit she had convened with counterparts from around the world through her Fostering the Future Together global initiative. The group has been discussing ways to empower children using education, innovation and technology, including artificial intelligence. Melania Trump and the humanoid walked slowly side by side along the red carpet from the opposite end of the hallway. The first lady paused just before entering the East Room while the robot walked around the table with the panelists and took up a position in the center of the room. It took a moment to scan the audience before speaking. "Thank you, first lady Melania Trump, for inviting me to the White House. It is an honor to be at Fostering the Future Together's global coalition inaugural meeting," it said. "I'm Figure 03, a humanoid built for the United States of America," it continued. "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education." "Welcome," it said before offering similar greetings in 10 other languages. The robot then thanked everyone and retraced its steps back down the red carpet. The first lady thanked the robot for joining her, adding: "It's fair to state, you are my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House." The startup robotics company Figure AI, based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced Figure 03 in October 2025 as its third-generation humanoid robot for people to use at home for help with such household tasks as laundry, cleaning and washing dishes, according to its website and company literature. CEO Brett Adcock said on social media he was "proud to see F.03 make history as the first humanoid robot in the White House." The startup is competing with others, including Boston Dynamics and Elon Musk's Tesla, as well as a number of companies in China, in building robots that look human-like and do some of the things that people do.
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'The robots are here' -- Melania Trump walks alongside creepy humanoid at White House summit like it's the most normal thing in the world
* The White House hosted its first humanoid robot * Figure 03 awkwardly walked and talked * First Lady Melanie Trump then touted a robot teacher When US First Lady Melania Trump said last year, "The robots are here," we had no idea she was being literal. On Wednesday, we witnessed the spectacle of the US First Lady strolling down the East Room hallway with a Figure 03 humanoid robot by her side The occasion was the kick-off of the second day of her summit, "Fostering the Future Together", which focuses on children and their education through technology. As Figure AI's robot carefully strode down the hall, the First Lady walked wordlessly beside it, offering a cheerful smile that only faded when Figure 03 crossed in front of her and then quickly marched out into the East Room. Mrs. Trump then appeared ready to speak, but suddenly the robot wandered into view, in front of the dais, where it stood silently for a moment before thanking Melania Trump for the invite to the White House. Figure 03 then added that it's built in the US (though no one has done a thorough inventory on the provenance of its components). Then the robot waved and said "welcome" in 11 languages before walking out of camera range. Ah, but Figure 03 wasn't done. The humanoid bot reappeared behind the dais and carefully walked behind the event attendees as Mrs. Trump looked on. Finally, everyone took their seats, and Mrs. Trump confirmed that Figure 03 just made history, "It's fair to state, you are the first American-made humanoid guest in the White House." The Trump White House and, especially, Melania Trump appear quite enamored with humanoid robots. Back in September, to mark the start of the administration's "White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education," Mrs. Trump said, "The robots are here. Our future is no longer science fiction." Adding, "I predict AI will represent the single largest growth category in our nation during this administration." While the administration has not made robotics a heavy focus of its growing AI initiatives, Mrs. Trump seems somewhat more invested. During Wednesday's event, she spoke openly about the potential for a robot teacher, one she appeared to call "Play-Dot." "Imagine a humanoid teacher called 'Play-Dot'. Access to the classical studies is now instantaneous. Literature, science, art, philosophy, mathematics, and history; humanity's entire corpus of information is available in the comfort of your home." This robot teacher would, Mrs. Trump claimed, offer students personalized experiences and always be patient and available. "The AI-powered Play-dot will boost analytic skills and problem-solving," she added. First Lady Trump went on to say that this robot teacher could help free children to spend time being with friends, playing sports, "and developing interests beyond school." It's not clear if Figure 03, which could cost roughly $20,000 per humanoid, could even fill that educational role. It is, however, designed for the home. Figure AI claims it's autonomous and has ample sensors, including some in its hands, for safe home use. As of this writing, though, Figure 03 still isn't for sale. First Lady Trump did not conflate this fictional robot teacher with the very real Figure 03 robot that just left the room, which is probably for the best, since it looked far from ready to teach a nation's children. But these are early days. Stay tuned for more robots in the White House (maybe frenemy Elon Musk's Tesla Optimus will get an invitation), and no, we're not talking about the politicians. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
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Robot escorts Melania Trump to White House tech function
The First Lady is joined by "Figure 3," a new humanoid robot, during White House conference. Credit: Oliver Contreras / contributor / AFP via Getty Image 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. "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."
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Surreal Footage Shows Melania Trump Walking Into White House Summit With Humanoid Robot
Can't-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech President Donald Trump's State-of-the-Union speech last month was notably light on education policy. While actively dismantling the US Department of Education and implementing shameful anti-trans policies at schools, the Trump administration has focused its efforts on AI education in what it frames as an attempt to ensure that young Americans have the "skills and understanding necessary to thrive in the AI-driven workforce." Beyond advocating for the use of AI to teach impressionable young minds -- the tech's extensive and well-documented shortcomings be damned -- the White House is making it clear that it's putting it front and center. During a surreal publicity stunt on Wednesday, First Lady Melania Trump walked down the red carpet of the White House's Eastern Room next to a black-and-white humanoid robot, dubbed Figure 03, built by US-based company Figure. Introduced in October, Figure 03 is the company's third generation humanoid robot, designed to be a "truly general-purpose robot" that can "perform human-like tasks and learn directly from people" through reinforcement learning and AI. The stunt was part of the White House's "Fostering the Future Together" initiative, which was purportedly designed to "help children learn, grow, and thrive through the safe and innovative use of advanced technology." Today's summit was attended by a number of other spouses of world leaders, including French first lady Brigitte Macron, and Olena Zelenska, first lady of Ukraine. The optics of the robot in the middle of an event aimed at fostering children's education were jarring. "Thank you, first lady Melania Trump, for inviting me to the White House," a robotic female voice told the camera after introducing itself. "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education," it continued. After an awkward and perhaps stunned silence, Trump chimed in. "It's fair to state: you are my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House," she said, followed by nervous laughter. During her introductory remarks, Trump lauded the robot as the personification of the "future of AI." "It will be formed in the shape of humans," she said in her opening remarks. "Very soon, artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility." Trump, however, failed to address growing concerns that AI is proving incredibly damaging, with professors saying that AI is destroying students' ability to think, undermining children's social and intellectual development, while teaching them potentially dangerous lessons. Not long after her brief introductory remarks, which saw her struggling to read a printed script, she left the room, skipping a panel discussion on AI and education and related networking, as CNN reports.
[16]
Enter Melania Trump, escorted by humanoid robot: 'I'm Figure 03, a humanoid built for the United States of America' | Fortune
Melania Trump often commands the attention of any room she enters but all eyes -- and cameras -- were trained on her humanoid companion on Wednesday. The robot accompanied the first lady to the White House East Room for the final day of a summit she had convened with counterparts from around the world through her Fostering the Future Together global initiative. The group has been discussing ways to empower children using education, innovation and technology, including artificial intelligence. Melania Trump and the humanoid walked slowly side by side along the red carpet from the opposite end of the hallway. The first lady paused just before entering the East Room while the robot walked around the table with the panelists and took up a position in the center of the room. It took a moment to scan the audience before speaking. "It is an honor to be at Fostering the Future Together's global coalition inaugural meeting," it said. "I'm Figure 03, a humanoid built for the United States of America," it continued. "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education." "Welcome," it said before offering similar greetings in 10 other languages. The robot then thanked everyone and retraced its steps back down the red carpet. The first lady thanked the robot for joining her, adding: "It's fair to state, you are my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House." The startup robotics company Figure AI, based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced Figure 03 in October 2025 as its third-generation humanoid robot for people to use at home for help with such household tasks as laundry, cleaning and washing dishes, according to its website and company literature. CEO Brett Adcock said on social media he was "proud to see F.03 make history as the first humanoid robot in the White House." The startup is competing with others, including Boston Dynamics and Elon Musk's Tesla, as well as a number of companies in China, in building robots that look human-like and do some of the things that people do. ___ Associated Press writer Matt O'Brien in Providence, R.I., contributed to this report.
[17]
Melania Trump brings humanoid robot to White House education summit
The First Lady unexpectedly kicked off a White House summit on global education and technology by arriving with Figure 3, a humanoid robot. There are many ways to begin an international policy summit. A humanoid robot delivering the welcome speech is not usually one of them. But that's exactly what happened at the White House on Wednesday, where Melania Trump entered the "Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit" alongside Figure 3, a human-shaped robot developed in the United States. Before any humans spoke, the machine addressed the audience, announcing that it was "honoured" to attend the meeting and "grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education". Shortly after welcoming guests, the robot quietly left the room and did not return. The gathering brought together representatives from more than 40 countries - including Olena Zelenska, Brigitte Macron and Sara Netanyahu - alongside major tech companies such as Microsoft, Google and OpenAI. Trump framed the initiative as a call to action - to expand access to education and digital tools for children worldwide while addressing online safety and digital literacy. The mission, she said, was achievable if governments and technology companies worked together, encouraging attendees to "take a proactive step" after the inaugural summit - hosting regional meetings, collaborating with the private sector and drafting legislation designed to protect children in an increasingly digital world. While celebrating innovation, Trump warned that optimism about technology must be matched with caution, insisting that "the safety of our next generation is always paramount". "Knowledge is the foundation of civilisation, but although academia is interesting, business is compelling. For real growth in technology and education, I encourage you to bring the private and public sector worlds together," she said. At one point, the First Lady invited attendees to imagine a classroom led by a humanoid AI educator named Plato - an always-available digital teacher capable of delivering lessons on literature, science, philosophy and history instantly at home. She wrapped up the event by urging nations to inspire children to "build new platforms, create new industries, and optimise production across all sectors", calling for continued "collaborative dialogue".
[18]
Melania Trump walks side-by-side with humanoid robot at White House summit
First Lady Melania Trump walked side-by-side with a sleek, black and white faceless figure Wednesday at her education summit at the White House. Despite its appearance, it wasn't an otherworldly creature. It was a humanoid AI robot, known as Figure 03. In videos from the summit, the robot can be seen mechanically strolling next to the first lady, even welcoming all in the room in several different languages and waving its hand. "Figure 03, thank you for joining me," the First Lady said. "It's fair to state you are my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House." Videos of the first lady walking beside the robot quickly went viral online and accumulated hundreds of thousands of views and curious comments from social media users, but little was said about who made the robot and what it's used for. The robot was created by the AI robotics company Figure, one of the top companies in the burgeoning AI subindustry racing to create lifelike robots. Six months ago, the company posted on LinkedIn that it had surpassed $1 billion in funding, which included investments from NVIDIA and LG Technology Ventures. CEO and founder Brett Adcock celebrated in a Wednesday X post that the robot made "history as the first humanoid robot in the White House." The 5'8," roughly 135lb, robot is touted by the company as an autonomous tool for delegating household tasks. It's covered in mesh fabric and includes cameras in the hands and tactile sensors to help operators see its targets. In promotional videos, it can be seen loading a dishwasher, doing laundry, picking up toys and folding clothes. At the summit, focused on AI and education, the first lady spoke to 45 female world leaders about the potential benefits of AI technology in the lives of young people, including through AI humanoid educators. "Very soon, artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility," she said. "Imagine a humanoid educator named 'Plato.' Access to the classical studies is now instantaneous -- literature, science, art, philosophy, mathematics and history -- humanity's entire corpus of information is available in the comfort of your home." The Figure 03 robot, which is not currently marketed for educational purposes or available for direct-to-consumer purchase, works through a vision-language-action AI model. VLA models process real-time data through visual perception sensors, such as cameras, and then use AI reasoning to solve, predict and complete tasks. Figure 03 uses the company's own VLA AI model called Helix. The model allows the robot to also respond to verbal commands. Figure AI does not appear to have any active contracts with the federal government. Neither the White House nor Figure immediately responded to comment. But humanoid AI robots have reportedly caught the attention of the Trump Administration, which has explored the use of similar robots as potential aids for the U.S. Military. This doesn't appear to be the focus of Figure 03. Previous robots built by Figure, such as the Figure 02, are focused more on manual labor tasks. Adcock has previously said that the company hopes that the robots could act as a way to address labor shortages in the U.S. "Today, manual labor compensation is the primary driver of goods and services prices," Adcock wrote on the company's website, "as these robots 'join the workforce,' everywhere from factories to farmland, the cost of labor will decrease until it becomes equivalent to the price of renting a robot, facilitating a long-term, holistic reduction in costs. Over time, humans could leave the loop altogether as robots become capable of building other robots -- driving prices down even more." ---Some responded negatively to the robot's appearance. California Governor Gavin Newsom's press account on X posted a reply to a clip of the first lady sharing her thoughts about the potential of AI humanoid educators, writing, "...how about no." The press account also shared an edited image of Trump standing next to the robot, which was altered to look like President Donald Trump.
[19]
Melania Trump pitches robots as potential educators for American schoolchildren
Washington -- For the first time in history, a robot, not a person, escorted the first lady of the United States Wednesday at the White House. Escorted by a walking, talking humanoid system, first lady Melania Trump pitched the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit on AI robots as potential, "personalized" educators for America's children in their homes. Not only can AI share a depth and breadth of knowledge, she said, but it can also patiently help children develop "deep critical thinking and independent reasoning abilities," achieve a "more well-rounded lifestyle" as they make time for other activities and become a "more complete person." "The future of AI is personified," the first lady said, seated alongside French first lady Brigitte Macron and other spouses of world leaders. "It will be formed in the shape of humans. Very soon, artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility. Since our environment is designed for people, humanoid systems are uniquely suited to navigate and operate within our world. They fit well." "Imagine a humanoid educator named Plato," she continued. "Access to the classical studies is now instantaneous. Literature, science, art, philosophy, mathematics and history. Humanity's entire corpus of information is available in the comfort of your home. Plato will provide a personalized experience, adaptive to the needs of each student. Plato is always patient, and always available. Predictably, our children will develop deep critical thinking and independent reasoning abilities. The AI-powered Plato will boost analytic skills and problem solving and adopt in real time to a student's pace, prior knowledge and even emotional state. The byproduct -- a more well-rounded lifestyle for our children, freeing up time for being with friends, playing sports and developing interests beyond school. A more complete person." She said companies like Meta, Microsoft, Open AI, Google Zoom and Adobe serve as catalysts for discovery. Still, the first lady warned that the safety of the next generation is always paramount, and optimism must be weighed with caution. The first lady offered more reasons integrating robots into children's lives -- saying that AI is future, and America's children must become the most technologically fluent in the world. "America, we are obligated to ensure that our children become the most technologically fluent and highly educated generation in the world," she said. "In doing so, the United States will secure long-term and economic superiority. This will drive GDP expansion, attack global investment, and put our nation in control of arguably the most important asset in the future, intellectual property. Let's inspire our children to build new platforms, create new industries and optimize production across all sectors." The summit the first lady hosted is one of a number of White House events focused on AI, as the Trump administration chooses to seize on the future of the technology. Her comments came just hours before a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable for creating products that led to harmful and addictive behavior by young users in a landmark decision that could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies.
[20]
First Robot: Melania Trump brings droid to White House event
Washington (United States) (AFP) - US First Lady Melania Trump brought a surprise guest to a White House event on Wednesday -- a walking, talking, humanoid robot. Instead of husband President Donald Trump at her side, it was the "Figure 3" android that accompanied Melania down the famous red carpet. The 55-year-old Melania, whose signature focus as first lady is on AI and digital spaces, was hosting a summit on empowering children with educational technology. "Thank you First Lady Melania Trump for inviting me to the White House," said the gray-and-black robot, gesturing with its hands in its brief opening remarks. It then walked off the way it came. There was applause from guests in the East Room of the White House, who included French first lady Brigitte Macron. "It's fair to state you're my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House," said Slovenian-born Melania, reading from a prepared statement. The former model, mother to the president's youngest son, 20-year-old Barron, went on to talk about how humanoid-based artificial intelligence would soon be used to educate children. "Imagine a humanoid educator named Plato. Access to the classical studies is now instantaneous," she said. "Predictably, our children will develop deep critical thinking, and independent reasoning abilities." Melania Trump has been taking on an increasingly public-facing role in recent months, after being an initially elusive presence at the White House early in her husband's second term. She has hosted a number of events on AI and protecting children online. But she has also taken on several money-spinning projects including a documentary called "Melania," made in a multi-million-dollar deal with Amazon, and an audiobook of her autobiography that is narrated by AI.
[21]
First lady Melania Trump struts at White House summit with robot
Melania Trump debuts new documentary at the Trump-Kennedy Center as celebrities gather and the president hints their legacies are intertwined. Melania Trump was joined by a humanoid robot during a White House event on Wednesday instead of her typical arm candy, President Donald Trump. The first lady, wearing a white pantsuit and matching heels, strutted alongside the humanoid named Figure3 before hosting a roundtable discussion on the second day of the inaugural Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit on March 25. The event featured first spouses from 45 other countries, including Trump herself. The appearance also comes the same day her husband appointed 13 tech experts - including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle executive chairman Larry Ellison, CEO of Nvidia Jensen Huang, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Dell founder Michael Dell - to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the White House announced March 25. Tech innovation has been a major focus of the second Trump administration. In September, Trump hosted a White House event focused on her AI education initiative, where she said "the robots are here," adding that "our future is no longer science fiction." "Very soon, artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility," Trump said at the summit in a White House press release shared March 25. "Since our environment is designed for people, humanoid systems are uniquely suited to navigate and operate within our world." The robot's appearance by the first lady comes after her documentary from disgraced filmmaker Brett Ratner dropped on streaming services on March 9. The documentary film follows her life in the 20 days leading up to the Trump family's return to the White House. The more private Trump has been leaning into pant suits - a fashion favorite - in recent months. Fresh off her documentary's January theatrical release, she was draped in a tieless dark suit, black belt and matching heels as she viewed the State of the Union alongside her family on Feb. 24. The first lady is believed to translate her mood and inner thoughts through fashion, an idea first formed during her husband's first term in office. Contributing: Amaris Encinas, Reuters, Zac Anderson
[22]
Robot Joins Melania Trump at White House Event to Tout AI Teachers
WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - A humanoid robot walked down a red-carpeted White House hallway on Wednesday, accompanying U.S. first lady Melania Trump into an event where she urged greater use of artificial intelligence in education. The human-shaped robot, which introduced itself as "Figure 03," joined Trump in the East Room to welcome dozens of first spouses from around the world to the technology-focused "Fostering the Future Together" summit. "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education," the robot said, greeting guests in 11 languages. Trump said Figure 03 was the first American-made humanoid guest at the White House, and used its appearance to promote the need for governments and major technology companies to work together to use AI for student instruction. "Very soon artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility," she said. The first lady, a former model, described how in the near future a hypothetical humanoid teacher could quickly access classical studies, mathematics and other subjects to deliver personalized education to students based on their learning speed and "emotional state." U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who is carrying out President Donald Trump's agenda of downsizing the federal education department, smiled from the front row as the first lady talked about shaking up education. "We can accelerate civilization's march forward when enterprise delivers innovation, government creates scale and our capital markets finance the distribution of these emerging technologies," Trump said. The president's wife also warned of technological dangers, a concern echoed by France's first lady Brigitte Macron, who touted her country's moves to restrict screen time and social media for children. Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump appointed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to a council that will weigh in on AI policy and other issues. The president has framed AI as a defining arena of strategic competition with China. China has been showcasing its own cutting-edge humanoid robots as Beijing pushes to dominate the emerging field. The first lady noted the global competition over intellectual property and said embracing AI-directed learning would add to U.S. "long-term economic superiority." (Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Rosalba O'Brien)
[23]
First Lady Melania Trump brings a humanoid robot to the White House: Here's what she said on AI education
It wasn't a typical White House event. As global leaders and tech executives gathered, an unexpected guest quietly walked into the room alongside First Lady Melania Trump -- a humanoid robot named Figure 03. The moment signaled something bigger than symbolism. It hinted at how quickly technology is stepping into everyday life. The event, focused on artificial intelligence and education, turned into a striking display of the future. With world leaders watching, the conversation shifted from theory to reality. The White House East Room saw an unusual entrance this week as First Lady Melania Trump walked in, not with a political figure, but alongside a humanoid robot. The robot, named Figure 03, moved confidently, greeting guests and marking a moment that felt like a glimpse into the future of education and technology, as per a report by ABC News, France 24 and Gadget Review. ALSO READ: Nancy Guthrie case twist: Ex-FBI agent slams 'cloak and dagger' tactics in her case Melania Trump used the moment to push a clear message: technology must be harnessed to empower children. Speaking to representatives from 45 nations and 28 tech companies, she urged collaboration and innovation. "Let's inspire our children to build new platforms, create new industries and optimize production across all sectors, from media and fashion to health and defense. Let's foster the future together." Her initiative, "Fostering the Future Together," focuses on expanding access to technology, improving digital literacy, and ensuring children are equipped with practical skills in an AI-driven world. She emphasized action over discussion, encouraging leaders to take concrete steps. "Our mission to empower children through technology and education is achievable. I encourage each of you to take a proactive step after this inaugural summit." "Imagine a humanoid educator named Plato. Access to the classical studies is now instantaneous," she said. "Predictably, our children will develop deep critical thinking, and independent reasoning abilities." ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Confucius: 'The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to...' -- Inspiring quotes by the first teacher in China The presence of Figure 03 was more than a spectacle. Developed in the United States, the robot introduced itself to attendees, saying: "I'm Figure 03, a humanoid built in the United States of America," it said. "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education." It greeted guests in multiple languages and even waved before exiting the room, drawing attention to how advanced humanoid robotics has become, as per a report by ABC News, France 24 and Gadget Review. Melania acknowledged the moment with a touch of humor, "It's fair to state, you are my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House." The robot's appearance reinforced her message -- that AI is no longer theoretical. It is here, visible, and increasingly integrated into everyday life. ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Princess Diana: 'Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the...' -- Inspiring quotes by the Princess of Wales celebrated for her extensive humanitarian work The summit brought together first spouses and global representatives, all focusing on balancing innovation with safety. Discussions covered artificial intelligence, education technology, and online protection for children. Melania stressed the importance of collaboration, "Our mission to empower children through technology and education is achievable. I encourage each of you to take a proactive step after this inaugural summit. Pledge to host a regional meeting. Collaborate with the private sector. Unlock access to tech for those who require assistance, draft groundbreaking legislation to protect our children." "Collaborate with another member nation. Form a committee and be a catalyst for discovery." International voices echoed similar concerns. Ukraine's First Lady spoke about building a digital education system to ensure uninterrupted learning. "For us, this is the matter of principle. No child, no adult, should lose access to education regardless of their circumstances. That is why we're building a comprehensive digital education ecosystem." The broader theme was that technology must be inclusive and accessible. Beyond the robot and speeches, the event highlighted a shifting global reality. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of education systems, and leaders are now grappling with how to use it responsibly, as per a report by ABC News, France 24 and Gadget Review. Melania pointed to a future where AI could transform learning itself: "Indeed, our world is transforming, and through the use of AI, we can now access centuries worth of human humanities knowledge base. The future of AI is personified. It will be formed in the shape of humans." The summit also addressed safety concerns, with a strong focus on protecting children in digital spaces while still embracing innovation. As the event concluded, one thing stood out: the conversation around AI is no longer about "if," but "how." With a humanoid robot walking the halls of the White House, the future Melania Trump described felt closer than ever. For many in the room, it wasn't just a demonstration. It was a signal that the next generation's education -- and the world they inherit -- will be shaped by decisions being made right now. What was unique about the White House event? A humanoid robot, Figure 03, appeared alongside Melania Trump and interacted with guests. What is Melania Trump's main focus? She is promoting AI-driven education and global collaboration to support children's learning.
[24]
Melania Strolls In With Humanoid Robot -- And Somehow It Gets Weirder From There
At a White House event, the first lady imagined a "humanoid educator" named Plato that would teach kids about the classical world and more. At a bizarre White House event on Wednesday, first lady Melania Trump walked side by side with an artificial-intelligence-powered robot before spelling out a vision of the future in which children are taught by a "humanoid educator." Trump was hosting an international summit on technology and education in the East Room and arrived accompanied by a white-and-black robot that matched her stride, at points unsteadily. (See video above.) The walking, talking "Figure 3" robot was developed by the AI robotics company Figure, which is based in San Jose, California. In a female voice, the robot welcomed guests in multiple languages, thanked its host, and walked back out of the room. "My first American-made humanoid guest in the White House," Trump declared. Addressing delegates at the two-day Fostering the Future Together summit, the president's wife proceeded to speak glowingly about an imaginary robot teacher named Plato, an allusion to the philosopher in ancient Greece. She envisioned the tech-fueled guide having a deep understanding of every major subject, including classical studies, and being available "in the comfort of your home." Arguing that AI will be "formed in the shape of humans," she said the robotic Plato would "provide a personalized experience adoptive to the needs of each student." She insisted, "Plato is always patient and always available. Predictably, our children will develop deep, critical thinking and independent reasoning abilities." The 55-year-old mother of son, Barron, argued Plato's introduction to the world would lead to a "more well-rounded lifestyle for our children." The summit saw fellow "first spouses" from more than 40 countries gather in Washington, D.C., including Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, and Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were also present across the two days. At Wednesday's session, Trump was reportedly in the room for just seven minutes for her opening remarks, leaving before a panel discussion on AI and education.
[25]
First Humanoid Robot Appears At White House With Melania Trump -- And No, It Wasn't Elon Musk's Optimus - Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Figure 3.0 Goes To Washington Figure, an AI robotics company founded in 2022 by Brett Adcock, has attracted some top investors in the company as it works to bring the Figure autonomous humanoid robot to the masses. On Wednesday, Figure walked side-by-side with the first lady at the Fostering the Future Together Initiative Global Summit. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, Figure made quite the entry and showed off its capabilities of walking, turning, and then greeting the crowd. With the global summit featuring people from 45 nations, Figure 3 was also able to greet participants in various languages. "Thank you First Lady Melania Trump for inviting me," Figure 3 said. The humanoid robot said it was happy to be at an event talking about empowering children with technology and education, and later left the room after the quick speech and waved to the audience. Trump championed the use of AI to personalize learning, the growth of humanoid educators as a tool for students, and the role of technology and education as a driver for the economy of the United States in her keynote speech on Wednesday. "The future of AI is personified - it will be formed in the shape of humans. Very soon artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility," Trump added. The first lady said AI was at a turning point, referencing several other historic times for humanity in the past, including the Industrial Revolution, the dawn of electricity, the space race and the birth of the internet. Adcock, who also co-founded Archer Aviation, shared a video of Figure 3 walking with Trump. "So proud to see F.03 make history as the first humanoid robot in the White House," Adcock tweeted with a robot and USA flag emojis. Beating Elon Musk to White House Hearing that a humanoid robot appeared at the White House might lead many fans of President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to assume it was Tesla's Optimus Bot without reading the news. Trump and Musk have had a close friendship in recent years and the president even hosted an event at the White House where he bought a Tesla Model S to show support for Musk in the past. Musk has put a heavy emphasis on the Optimus Bot with plans to produce hundreds of thousands of humanoid robots in the future, with factories converting from making electric vehicles to ready-to-scale production of robots instead. The billionaire has also put a future valuation of $25 trillion or more on Tesla, saying 80% of the company's valuation could come from the growth of Optimus Bot. Optimus Bot has made headlines for its appearances at Tesla events and for greeting guests at the Tesla Diner in California. Instead of becoming the first humanoid robot at the White House, Optimus Bot now takes a backseat to Figure and its newfound fame. Figure Attracts Big Backers A Series C funding round in 2025 saw the company valued at $39 billion, with the new financing going towards building humanoid robots at scale. Figure has highlighted common tasks for the Figure 3 robot in the past, including laundry, cleaning, doing dishes and cleaning up an entire living room, a task that got Musk questioning if the robot was truly autonomous. Photo Courtesy: Evan El-Amin on Shutterstock.com Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
[26]
Melania Trump Touts AI-Powered Robots Teaching Classics To Kids At Bizarre White House Event
Melania Trump Touts AI-Powered Robots Teaching Classics To Kids At Bizarre White House Event At a bizarre White House event on Wednesday, first lady Melania Trump spelled out a vision of the future where children are given a classical education by Artificial Intelligence-powered robots. Trump was hosting an international summit on technology and education at the East Room, and arrived accompanied by a walking white-and-black robot that matched her pace. Addressing delegates at the so-called "Fostering the Future" event, the president's wife proceeded to speak glowingly about an imaginary "humanoid educator" named Plato, an allusion to the philosopher in ancient Greece. She envisioned the robot teacher having a deep understanding of every major subject, including classical studies, and being available "in the comfort of your home." Arguing that AI will be "formed in the shape of humans," she said the robotic Plato would "provide a personalized experience adoptive to the needs of each student." "Plato is always patient and always available," she insisted. "Predictably, our children will develop deep, critical thinking and independent reasoning abilities." She argued Plato's introduction to the world would lead to a "more well-rounded lifestyle for our children."
[27]
Melania Trump shares the spotlight with a robot at an education and technology event
WASHINGTON -- Melania Trump often commands the attention of any room she enters but all eyes -- and cameras -- were trained on her humanoid companion on Wednesday. The robot accompanied the first lady to the White House East Room for the final day of a summit she had convened with counterparts from around the world through her Fostering the Future Together global initiative. The group has been discussing ways to empower children using education, innovation and technology, including artificial intelligence. Melania Trump and the humanoid walked slowly side by side along the red carpet from the opposite end of the hallway. The first lady paused just before entering the East Room while the robot walked around the table with the panelists and took up a position in the center of the room. It took a moment to scan the audience before speaking. "Thank you, first lady Melania Trump, for inviting me to the White House. It is an honor to be at Fostering the Future Together's global coalition inaugural meeting," it said. "I'm Figure 03, a humanoid built for the United States of America," it continued. "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education." "Welcome," it said before offering similar greetings in 10 other languages. The robot then thanked everyone and retraced its steps back down the red carpet. The first lady thanked the robot for joining her, adding: "It's fair to state, you are my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House." The startup robotics company Figure AI, based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced Figure 03 in October 2025 as its third-generation humanoid robot for people to use at home for help with such household tasks as laundry, cleaning and washing dishes, according to its website and company literature. CEO Brett Adcock said on social media he was "proud to see F.03 make history as the first humanoid robot in the White House." The startup is competing with others, including Boston Dynamics and Elon Musk's Tesla, as well as a number of companies in China, in building robots that look human-like and do some of the things that people do.
[28]
Robot joins Melania Trump at White House event to tout AI teachers
WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - A humanoid robot walked down a red-carpeted White House hallway on Wednesday, accompanying U.S. first lady Melania Trump into an event where she urged greater use of artificial intelligence in education. The human-shaped robot, which introduced itself as "Figure 03," joined Trump in the East Room to welcome dozens of first spouses from around the world to the technology-focused "Fostering the Future Together" summit. "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education," the robot said, greeting guests in 11 languages. Trump said Figure 03 was the first American-made humanoid guest at the White House, and used its appearance to promote the need for governments and major technology companies to work together to use AI for student instruction. "Very soon artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility," she said. The first lady, a former model, described how in the near future a hypothetical humanoid teacher could quickly access classical studies, mathematics and other subjects to deliver personalized education to students based on their learning speed and "emotional state." U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who is carrying out President Donald Trump's agenda of downsizing the federal education department, smiled from the front row as the first lady talked about shaking up education. "We can accelerate civilization's march forward when enterprise delivers innovation, government creates scale and our capital markets finance the distribution of these emerging technologies," Trump said. The president's wife also warned of technological dangers, a concern echoed by France's first lady Brigitte Macron, who touted her country's moves to restrict screen time and social media for children. Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump appointed Meta CEO Mark ?Zuckerberg, Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to a council that will weigh in on AI policy and other issues. The president has framed AI as a defining arena of strategic competition with China. China has been showcasing its own cutting-edge humanoid robots as Beijing pushes to dominate the emerging field. The first lady noted the global competition over intellectual property and said embracing AI-directed learning would add to U.S. "long-term economic superiority." (Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Rosalba O'Brien)
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Humanoid robot walks out with Melania Trump at White House summit
STORY: :: A humanoid robot walks out with Melania Trump at a White House summit :: March 25, 2026 U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP: "Good morning, welcome to the White House. Figure 03, thank you for joining me at day two of 'Fostering the Future Together.'" The robot introduced itself to the attendees as a "humanoid" named "Figure 03". It told the group it had been built in the U.S. According to the White House, "Fostering the Future Together will make available to countries of the world advanced technology, including artificial intelligence (Al), to assist children, educators, and parents, while also protecting them from online dangers."
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Meet Figure 03: The humanoid robot seen walking with Melania Trump and why it is going viral
The demo showed robots could soon assist in classrooms and daily life. Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, drew attention at a recent White House event when she arrived alongside a human-like robot called Figure 03. The event focused on how technology is transforming daily life. As she walked down the red carpet, the robot accompanied her, greeting guests and communicating in multiple languages. The company behind the humanoid said it aimed to demonstrate how artificial intelligence is moving beyond smartphones and computers into machines that operate in the real world. Speaking at the event, Trump described a future in which humanoid robots assist in classrooms as intelligent tutors, adapting lessons to each student's pace and responding to emotions. Figure 03 is the latest humanoid robot created by Figure AI, a company that creates robots to function in various environments rather than in factories or labs. According to company officials, their ultimate goal is to develop robots that can learn from humans and assist them in various places, such as homes, offices, and even in public spaces. They further claimed that this robot is created in such a way that it can adapt and respond rather than following pre-set instructions like other robots. Also read: One UI 9 features leaked ahead of official rollout: Supported devices and release timeline The robot runs on a system called Helix, which helps it understand surroundings and process spoken commands. This also allows it to react in real time, as it can recognise objects, learn from interactions, and adjust to new situations. This is one of the features that makes it different and more flexible than traditional robots, which usually perform only a single type of task. Figure 03 also consists of advanced cameras to provide better vision and awareness. Additionally, the hands of the robot are equipped with sensors as well as small cameras to assist the humanoid robot in handling objects in a better way. The robot is able to change its grip as well. The robot is also able to provide voice interaction by incorporating speakers as well as microphones. Additionally, it is also equipped with wireless charging capabilities. Also read: Forget iPhone 18 Pro, next year's iPhone may get Find X9 Ultra-like 1-inch 200MP camera: All details Guests at the summit watched closely as the robot interacted naturally with people. It was not only restricted to movements but also responded to voices and greeted people. The demonstration was intended to illustrate how far robotics has advanced and how soon robots of that nature might become part of people's lives. Speaking at the event, Melania Trump highlighted how such robots could assist in classrooms by adapting lessons to each student. The message was clear. The future may include robots not just as tools, but as active partners in daily life.
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First Lady Melania Trump arrived at a White House technology summit accompanied by Figure 03, an AI-powered humanoid robot that delivered opening remarks. The event promoted a vision where humanoid robots serve as personalized educators in children's homes, sparking debate about the future role of human teachers in education.
Humanoid Robot Makes White House Debut at Education Summit
Melania Trump walked down a red-carpeted White House hallway on Wednesday with an unusual companion: Figure 03, an AI-powered humanoid robot
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. The spectacle unfolded at the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit, a two-day event hosting leaders from 45 nations and 28 technology organizations3
. As international first spouses including Brigitte Macron of France looked on, the humanoid robot entered the East Room to music reminiscent of John Williams's "Hook" soundtrack2
. The robot identified itself and delivered opening remarks: "I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education," before greeting guests in 11 languages5
.
Source: AP
Vision for AI Teachers and Personalized Education for Children
The First Lady used the White House tech summit to outline an ambitious vision for AI in education. She asked attendees to imagine a humanoid educator named Plato that would provide instant access to classical studies, literature, science, art, philosophy, mathematics, and history
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. According to Melania Trump, these AI-powered humanoid robots could exist in children's homes to "boost analytic skills and problem solving and adapt in real time to a student's pace, prior knowledge and even emotional state"3
. She emphasized that such technology would deliver personalized education while remaining "always patient, and always available," ultimately helping children develop deeper critical thinking and independent reasoning abilities1
. The event formed part of her Be Best: Fostering the Future initiative, introduced in 2018 to help children learn using advanced technology4
.
Source: ET
Figure AI and the $25,000 Household Robot
The Figure 03 humanoid robot that accompanied the First Lady is manufactured by Silicon Valley-based robotics company Figure AI, which introduced its third-generation model in October last year
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. According to Forbes, the Figure 03 costs around $25,0003
. Using a proprietary AI engine called Helix, the robot can autonomously perform household tasks and respond to voice commands4
. Demo videos have shown it folding laundry, lifting eggs from a carton, using a washing machine, and delivering drinks by the pool, as well as corporate applications as a receptionist and package deliverer3
. A Figure representative confirmed the robot was fully autonomous and not being teleoperated during its White House appearance2
.
Source: Mashable
Department of Education Pushes AI Adoption Amid Restructuring
US Education Secretary Linda McMahon spoke at the summit about AI being one of the Department of Education's main priorities. "If we're able to scale these resources effectively by investing in AI infrastructure and training, we can offer expert instructions across countless fields, to higher volumes of people at a fraction of the cost," McMahon said Tuesday at a roundtable meeting
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. According to Linda McMahon, the Department of Education has already dedicated millions of dollars in grants to support the use of AI in schools4
. The summit occurred as McMahon carries out President Trump's agenda of downsizing the federal education department5
. While the Department of Education hasn't been officially abolished following a 2025 executive order, it has undergone significant policy changes, funding cuts, and workforce reductions3
.Educational Technology Experiments Gain Administration Support
The Trump administration has embraced experiments in educational technology while attacking the traditional public education system
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. Educational experiments like the Alpha School, a network of private schools that use AI to teach children at rapid speed, have gained traction and media attention over the past year1
. Secretary McMahon recently visited an Alpha School campus and praised the "opportunity" promised by the educational chain. "Alpha School is reimagining K-12 education by equipping students with practical AI skills and preparing them for a rapidly evolving technology-driven workforce," the administration said of her visit1
. The summit included representatives from tech giants such as Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and AI data analytics company Palantir3
.Related Stories
Backlash Over Robots Replacing Human Teachers
The introduction of a humanoid robot at the summit sparked significant backlash among critics wary of the technology's role in the classroom
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. Many took to social media to voice concerns that these machines could eventually replace teachers, stripping the education system of essential human connection and leading to increased layoffs and cost-cutting4
. On one Huffington Post Instagram post featuring the robot, commenters expressed deep skepticism, with one user sarcastically noting, "Nice, getting rid of educators in favor of a robot," while another flatly rejected the concept, stating, "No, I don't want to imagine a world with emotionless robots educating our children"3
.Strategic Competition and Economic Implications
Melania Trump framed the adoption of AI teachers within the context of global technological competition. She noted that embracing AI-directed learning through adaptive learning systems would contribute to U.S. "long-term economic superiority"
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. "We can accelerate civilization's march forward when enterprise delivers innovation, government creates scale and our capital markets finance the distribution of these emerging technologies," Trump said5
. President Trump has framed AI as a defining arena of strategic competition with China, and earlier on Wednesday appointed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to an AI policy council5
. China has been showcasing its own cutting-edge humanoid robots as Beijing pushes to dominate the emerging field5
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