“We will definitely do a humanoid,” Altman said during an interview on the Sources podcast. “We will do other form factors as well.”
Altman pointed to the existing human-built environment as one reason for pursuing the humanoid form. Doors, computers, vehicles, kitchens and other everyday infrastructure have been designed around the human body, making a similar form useful for a general-purpose robot.
OpenAI does not expect personal humanoids to be the first application. Altman said the company is initially more interested in robots that can perform useful physical work, including machines that could help build and maintain data centers and other infrastructure. Purpose-built robots with different form factors are also part of the plan.
The longer-term ambition extends into the home. Altman said he eventually wants everyone to be able to have a personal robot capable of taking care of tasks they would rather not do.
OpenAI has already been building out an internal robotics team. Current roles include engineers working on custom electromechanical actuators, gear systems, electronics, firmware, inference and robot hardware. The company describes the team as working across hardware and software to develop general-purpose robotics in real-world environments.
The move also puts OpenAI closer to companies it previously backed or worked with. OpenAI invested in Figure and partnered with the company on humanoid AI before the two ended their collaboration in 2025. OpenAI is also an investor in 1X Technologies, which is developing the NEO home humanoid.
For now, OpenAI has not revealed the design, specifications, timeline or production plans for its humanoid.
