UMANOID ROBOTS
OpenAI signals plans for humanoid robots
OpenAI is doubling down on humanoid robots.
Over the past year, the ChatGPT creator has been quietly expanding its robotics department, with a spate of job listings calling for engineers and researchers with expertise in robotic control, sensing and real-world mobility.
While it’s not yet clear whether the company plans to build its own robots or create the software to power humanoids, the move indicates that OpenAI is serious about staking its claim.
OpenAI has yet to comment on the news (and did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication). However, recent listings on its careers page show that the company is seeking mechanical engineers, robotics research engineers and software specialists.
Job posts range from mechanical and software engineers with skills in prototyping, building robot sensors and designing, implementing and optimizing "across diverse robotics hardware."
“Our robotics team is focused on unlocking general-purpose robotics and pushing towards AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world settings,” OpenAI wrote in the listing.
In January, OpenAI showcased its humanoid robotics aspirations by filing a trademark application that notably included “user-programmable humanoid robots.”
Since then, several roboticists have joined the team, including Stanford’s Chengshu Li, who worked on benchmarking humanoid robots for household chores.
OpenAI has been circling the humanoid space for a while. It was a lead investor in 1X Technologies, developer of the NEO Gamma, as well as Swedish humanoid startup Figure.
Benjamin Lee, a professor of engineering and computer science at the University of Pennsylvania, told The Deep View that OpenAI’s shift into humanoid robotics is not surprising, as robotics is a natural next step for foundational research.
“Moving forward, the potential gains from research in robotics may be greater than those from research in large language models,” Lee said. “But although this is a natural next step for AI research, it is not an obvious next step for AI companies seeking to broaden technology adoption and develop profitable business models.”