OpenAI Job Listings Hint at Ambitious Robotics Plans
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Amelia Cross
- January 10, 2025
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OpenAI’s Robotics Revival: Job Listings and Hardware Plans Unveiled
After disbanding and then reviving its robotics division, OpenAI is shedding light on its ambitions through new job postings and social media updates. Caitlin Kalinowski, OpenAI’s hardware director and former Meta AR leader, revealed plans to develop custom robots with advanced sensor suites.
According to the job listings, OpenAI aims to create “general-purpose, adaptive, and versatile” robots designed to operate in dynamic, real-world environments. These robots will integrate proprietary sensors, computational elements, and AI models developed in-house. One posting hints at humanoid designs, while another suggests the goal of scaling production to “1M+ units.”
OpenAI’s approach involves blending advanced AI capabilities with the physical challenges of robotics across various form factors. Contractors may test prototypes, and Kalinowski emphasized the team’s focus on creating robots that seamlessly merge hardware and software.
The robotics industry raised $6.4 billion in VC funding last year, with companies like Bright Machines and Collaborative Robotics focusing on niche applications, while others, like X1 and Figure, work toward humanoid robots. OpenAI’s collaboration with these companies and its own efforts underscore its bullish outlook on robotics’ future potential.
This isn’t OpenAI’s only hardware venture. The company is reportedly collaborating with ex-Apple designer Jony Ive on a new device and developing custom chips to power its AI models. With these efforts, OpenAI is expanding its influence across both the digital and physical realms.
