"We will": Altman confirms OpenAI is building its own humanoid robot
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has confirmed the company is building a humanlike robot. He holds out a first demo for 2027 – but says the most important part is the "brain".
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OpenAI intends to develop its own humanoid robot. Asked whether the company would build one, Sam Altman replied briefly on a podcast, according to Engadget: "We will." The human form makes sense because the world is "very much designed for people", he said. More important than the body, however, is figuring out the "brain" that makes the robot work.
On timing, Altman had already told Fortune magazine in mid-September that he expects a "cool demo" in 2027, but that robots walking the streets are a few years further off. According to Engadget, OpenAI's careers page currently lists 27 robotics openings – including roles for custom actuators built from motors, transmissions and sensing, as well as manufacturing and supply chain.
OpenAI has not disclosed what the robot will look like, what the demo will show, what it will cost or when it might launch. Years ago, the company trained a robot hand in simulation in its Dactyl project; the hand later solved a Rubik's Cube.