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OpenAI is an artificial intelligence (AI) research organization located in San Francisco, California. Best known for creating the widely used AI tool ChatGPT, the company has now confirmed its plans to build a humanoid robot. OpenAI has only ever built the “brains” used in robots, but now it’s time to build a body. With no set release date, it is unclear when OpenAI plans to have the project completed, but CEO Sam Altman is adamant it will “definitely” be built.
The News Is Out
A list of job openings was recently added to the OpenAI Robotics careers page. Of the 19 available positions, four were actuator-specific. Actuators serve as a humanoid robot’s primary source of motion (walking, gripping, bending, etc.). The company's interest in filling these types of positions led some to wonder if it plans to build a humanoid, a data center machine, or both. Altman confirmed both. “We will definitely do a humanoid. We will do other form factors as well,” he said.
Given that OpenAI is one of the most prominent AI companies in the world, it is big news to hear of its expansion from building just brains to adding bodies. Several other robotics companies are in the process of creating the perfect humanoid, and the stakes just got a little higher. Some skeptics believe that Altman and his team are underestimating the difficulties associated with robot building. They are also concerned about the company’s ability to get its hands on the materials needed to complete the project.
There Is Risk Involved
Actuators make up between 40% and 60% of the cost of materials. Currently, China controls nearly 70% of rare-earth mining and 90% of global magnet processing, which creates an issue with the supply chain and the cost increase associated with using Chinese-made parts. The price per unit is expected to increase from around $46,000 to $131,000, causing concerns about how well the product will sell.
Elon Musk and Tesla have faced difficulties regarding the production and completion of their humanoid, Optimus. The complex robot is reportedly made with 10,000 new parts, which, due to supply chain challenges, are difficult to obtain on schedule. To date, Tesla has yet to sell a single humanoid, and it seems plausible that no sales will take place outside of Tesla factories until the end of 2027.
Why Humanoids?
Altman has been asked, “Why humanoids?” In other words, why not different shapes of robots? And his answer is simple: The world we live in is built for humans.
“The world is very much designed for people,” he said. “So if you think about like the ability to open a door and type on a computer and drive a piece of equipment and, you know, clean a kitchen and whatever else, we’ve kind of built this world for people, and I want to make sure that we keep building this world for people. So matching that form factor seems good."
If predictions that robots in the world will exceed the number of cars are correct, the future has the potential to look full of humanoid creatures.
Kirsten Brooker
Culture Correspondent for Liberty Nation and Generation Liberty. Kirsten loves to write about culture from the point of view of an everyday American who lives deep in the heart of the Midwest. She is the mother of two adorable girls, likes classic rock, and humbly wears the crown of a former Homecoming Queen with grace and style.
