Humanoid robot startup Figure has drawn a $675 million investment from Jeff Bezos, AI chipmaker Nvidia, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and others, Jennifer reports.

Why it matters: Bipedal robots with dexterous hands are joining the labor force this year, a trend that's expected to gain steam.

Driving the news: The infusion of capital for Figure, a Silicon Valley startup founded by "flying taxi" pioneer Brett Adcock, gives it a valuation of $2.6 billion.

• Investors include Microsoft, the OpenAI Startup Fund, Nvidia, the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Jeff Bezos (through Bezos Expeditions).
• Others include Parkway Venture Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures and ARK Invest.
• The $675 million Series B funding round "will accelerate Figure's timeline for humanoid commercial deployment," the company said in a release.

The intrigue: Figure and OpenAI will also collaborate to develop next-generation AI models for humanoid robots.

• This will combine "OpenAI's research with Figure's deep understanding of robotics hardware and software," the companies said.
• The partnership "aims to help accelerate Figure's commercial timeline by enhancing the capabilities of humanoid robots to process and reason from language."

The big picture: There's an arms race among humanoid robot makers — which include Tesla and Boston Dynamics — to bring anthropomorphic machines into the workplace.

• Figure's robots are joining BMW's production line.
• Amazon is testing Digit, from Agility Robotics, for warehouse work.
• NASA has a partnership with Apptronik to develop its humanoid robot (aptly named Apollo) for space exploration.
• Sanctuary AI's robot Phoenix was named a TIME 2023 Best Invention after it "picked, packed, tagged, labeled, and folded clothes at a clothing store in Langley, Canada."
• Other players readying humanoid robots for the workplace include 1X, which makes an android named EVE, and Hanson Robotics, whose well-mannered feminine robot is called Sophia.

What they're saying: The big investment in Figure is "part of a scramble to find new applications for artificial intelligence," per Bloomberg, which broke the funding news.

• "Robots have emerged as a critical new frontier for the AI industry, letting it apply cutting-edge technology to real-world tasks," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Gillian Tan wrote.

Between the lines: Humanoid robots' growing muscle raises new fears about taking away jobs from humans, though robotics companies assure us that they're meant for work that's too dangerous or repetitive for people.

• A watchword in this corner of the robotics industry is "upskilling" — the idea that people who are replaced by robots will be trained for better and more fulfilling roles in the same field.

What's next: Humanoid robots are edging gingerly into actual workplaces, with companies kicking the tires before letting them loose beside flesh-and-blood workers.

• "I think the next 24 months you'll start seeing humanoid robots in the real world," Adcock tells Axios.

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Ford electric vehicle owners can now order a free adapter to charge their cars at most Tesla Superchargers, Joann reports.

Why it matters: Supercharger access effectively doubles the number of fast-charging stations available to non-Tesla owners, potentially relieving a big pain point for EV buyers.

Driving the news: As of today, electric Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV and F-150 Lightning pickup owners can access more than 15,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada.

• Ford owners will need an adapter and a vehicle software update to use Tesla's chargers.

How it works: The Tesla-designed-and-built adapters are available for free from Ford through the end of June. After July 1, they'll cost $230.

• Customers can order an adapter through Ford's website or the FordPass app; shipments are set to begin by the end of March.
• The software update — which will allow Tesla's chargers to automatically recognize Ford vehicles for billing purposes — will begin rolling out today.

By the numbers: The move brings the number of fast-charging ports in Ford's Blue Oval Charge Network to 28,000.

Yes, but: Not all Superchargers will be open to Ford drivers.

• Mach-E and Lightning owners can check their FordPass mobile app or use the in-car screen to find compatible Tesla locations.

Catch up quick: Ford stunned the auto industry last May when it announced a charging partnership with Tesla, including a plan to outfit its next-generation cars with Tesla's charging system.

• Until that point, Tesla's technology had been an industry outlier and its Supercharger network off-limits to non-Tesla owners.
• But last year, CEO Elon Musk decided to open up access to the Tesla network, making the company eligible for new federal tax credits and potentially extra revenue from the sale of electricity to EV drivers.
• Other automakers, meanwhile, saw an opportunity to boost EV buyers' confidence. One by one, they followed Ford's lead.

The bottom line: Tesla's charging technology is now on track to become the industry standard — giving the company even more influence over the EV world.

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A record share of people with disabilities were working last year, Axios Markets' Emily Peck reports from new Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Why it matters: It's a reflection of a strong labor market, post-pandemic changes and the rise of remote employment.

The big picture: The ability to work from home has been a boon to many disabled workers, who no longer need to contend with an arduous commute and have more flexibility to configure an accommodating work setup.

Yes, but: There's also been an increase in the overall share of Americans who are disabled.

• 12.5% of Americans were disabled in 2023, up from 11.7% in 2019, per BLS data.

Between the lines: It's not clear whether more workers have become disabled, or more disabled workers have entered the workforce.

• It's likely a combination of both, says Marissa Ditkowsky, disability economic justice counsel at the National Partnership for Women & Families, which advocates for worker rights.
• COVID was a "mass disabling event," she says — but some workers who became disabled, particularly those with long COVID, may have been better able to hang on to their jobs because of remote work.

Reality check: People with a disability are still far less likely to be working. They're also more likely to work part-time and earn lower wages.

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Denver is changing the rules for its e-bike rebates this year, Axios Denver's John Frank reports.

Why it matters: The popular program has been held up as a model for other cities interested in similar efforts.

How it works: Denver's vouchers are released five times a year on a first-come, first-served basis — and they typically go fast.

• The dates this year: Feb. 27, April 30, June 25, Aug. 27 and Oct. 29.

What's new: The rebate amounts will now be based on three income tiers.

• Households making below 60% of the area's median income will receive $1,200 for an e-bike, or $1,400 for a cargo version.
• Households making 100% of the area's median income can get $700 for an e-bike or $900 for a cargo version.
• All others are issued vouchers worth $300 for an e-bike or $500 for a cargo version.

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