December 25, 2024 – According to a report by The Information today, insiders from OpenAI have recently revealed that the company is exploring the possibility of developing humanoid robots.
This news was learned from two “directly informed sources” by the media. However, details about this potential project remain scarce, and it is currently unclear when OpenAI plans to launch the robot or what its targeted application scenarios are.
Currently, a few startup companies developing humanoid robots mainly focus on two application scenarios: one is to improve efficiency by automating tasks such as cargo handling inside warehouses; the other is to help consumers with household chores.
It’s worth noting that OpenAI itself is an investor in multiple robot companies dedicated to the aforementioned application scenarios.
In February of this year, the developer of ChatGPT participated in a 625millionfundingroundforFigureAIInc.,valuingthecompanyat2.6 billion. Figure AI’s latest humanoid robot, Figure 02, uses an artificial intelligence model developed in collaboration with OpenAI to process voice commands from warehouse workers. Earlier this year, BMW tested Figure 02 at one of its automotive plants, using the robot to handle metal parts.
OpenAI is also an investor in 1X, a Norwegian company that competes with Figure AI. 1X has developed a humanoid robot called EVE, which relies on a pair of wheels to move at speeds up to 9.8 miles per hour (approximately 15.77 kilometers). The company is currently developing a second consumer-oriented robot that is slower but can perform a wider range of tasks.
For OpenAI, partnering with startups like 1X or Figure to develop humanoid robots may be much faster than building everything from scratch. OpenAI’s investments in the humanoid robot sector will undoubtedly help it find suitable partners. Another option is that OpenAI could use part of its newly acquired $6.6 billion in funding to acquire an existing market participant.
OpenAI is not new to the field of robotics technology. Until 2021, the company operated a department dedicated to developing artificial intelligence models for autonomous machines. This department achieved several research milestones before it was shut down. In one project, OpenAI researchers trained a robotic arm to solve a Rubik’s cube. The company also open-sourced Roboschool, a set of simulation tools that can be used to train artificial intelligence software for robotic vehicles, some of which are targeted at developing humanoid robots.
If this plan comes to fruition, OpenAI’s entry into the robotics sector could benefit from its rumored development of customized artificial intelligence chips. Reuters recently reported that the company is working with Broadcom and TSMC to develop an inference processor. Theoretically, OpenAI could leverage these partnerships to commission another chip optimized for the artificial intelligence software onboard its humanoid robots. Typically, customized processors can provide better performance than off-the-shelf chips because they are more closely aligned with the device’s requirements.
