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Figma and UiPath: Revisiting AI Potential in 2026

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Tuesday, February 10th 2026 at 17:06 GMT by The Motley Fool
      Locales: California, New York, UNITED STATES

Beyond Design and Automation: Assessing the Long-Term AI Potential of Figma and UiPath

Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 - The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution continues to reshape industries, and the investment landscape is brimming with opportunities. However, discerning truly promising AI stocks from those merely attaching the 'AI' label requires careful analysis. Previously, we compared Figma (FGBT) and UiPath (PATH), two companies leveraging AI in distinct ways. Today, we revisit that comparison, examining their progress over the past two years and extrapolating their potential trajectories in the rapidly evolving AI market.

Figma: From Collaborative Design to AI-Powered Creativity

Figma initially established itself as a dominant collaborative design platform. Its early integration of AI focused on enhancing design workflows - automated generation of design elements, content-aware suggestions, and improved organization. These features were intended to reduce tedious tasks and empower designers to concentrate on strategic, creative aspects of their work. By 2026, Figma's AI capabilities have expanded considerably. The platform now boasts features like 'Design Harmony', an AI engine that analyzes design trends and user data to proactively suggest optimal design solutions, and 'Style Weaver', which automatically adapts designs to various brand guidelines and platforms. Crucially, Figma has successfully integrated generative AI, allowing users to create complex illustrations and prototypes from simple text prompts.

The key to Figma's success isn't just what the AI does, but how it integrates with the designer's workflow. Figma's emphasis on maintaining creative control, rather than replacing the designer, has resonated with its user base. However, the platform still faces challenges. Competition from Adobe, which has aggressively integrated AI into its Creative Suite, remains fierce. Figma's reliance on the design community also makes it vulnerable to shifts in design trends and preferences.

UiPath: Redefining Automation with Cognitive Capabilities

UiPath, a pioneer in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), has been at the forefront of leveraging AI to automate business processes for years. Its initial focus on automating repetitive tasks has evolved into a more sophisticated platform capable of handling complex processes requiring decision-making and continuous learning. By 2026, UiPath's 'Automation Fabric' is considered an industry standard, offering end-to-end automation solutions across a wide range of industries.

The company's advancements in intelligent document processing (IDP), natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning (ML)-powered process discovery have been particularly impactful. UiPath's robots can now not only extract data from unstructured documents with remarkable accuracy but also understand complex customer inquiries and proactively identify opportunities for automation. A recent partnership with Salesforce has further strengthened UiPath's position, allowing for seamless automation of CRM processes.

The Evolving Landscape & Comparative Analysis

Two years ago, UiPath had a clearer path to near-term revenue growth due to its mature AI integrations. This remains largely true. UiPath's strength lies in its demonstrable ROI through quantifiable efficiency gains in enterprise operations. However, Figma has rapidly closed the gap. Its generative AI features are attracting a broader user base, including those without traditional design expertise. This has expanded Figma's total addressable market and opened new revenue streams through subscription tiers and enterprise licensing.

Valuation remains a critical factor. While Figma's growth potential remains high, its price-to-earnings ratio has continued to be premium. UiPath, while not cheap, offers a more grounded valuation reflecting its established market position and consistent revenue generation. Moreover, UiPath's strategic focus on verticalized solutions - tailored automation for specific industries like healthcare and finance - is proving increasingly successful. Figma, while expanding into enterprise solutions, still primarily serves the design community.

The Verdict: A Nuanced Perspective

Our previous assessment favoring UiPath still holds weight. UiPath's established business model, proven track record of delivering ROI, and ongoing innovation in cognitive automation make it a relatively safer bet for investors. However, dismissing Figma would be a mistake. Figma's ability to democratize design through AI and foster a strong community of creators presents a unique long-term opportunity.

Looking forward, both companies face challenges. UiPath must continue to innovate beyond RPA and integrate seamlessly with emerging technologies like quantum computing. Figma needs to demonstrate sustained growth beyond its core design market and successfully compete with established players like Adobe.

For investors seeking stability and predictable returns, UiPath remains the more compelling choice. However, for those with a higher risk tolerance and a belief in the transformative power of AI-driven creativity, Figma presents a potentially lucrative - albeit more volatile - investment opportunity. The optimal strategy may involve a diversified portfolio encompassing both companies, capitalizing on the complementary strengths of design innovation and process automation in the age of AI.