OpenAI staffers have recently floated the possibility of developing a humanoid robot, The Information reported today.

The publication learned of the discussions from two people with “direct knowledge” of the matter. Details about the potential project are scant. It’s unclear when OpenAI might be hoping to introduce the robot or what use cases it would target.

Currently, the handful of startups developing humanoid robots are focusing on two main use cases. The first is making warehouses more efficient by automating tasks such as moving merchandise from one part of a facility to another. The other target use case, in turn, is helping consumers perform household chores.

OpenAI is an investor in several of the companies building robots for those use cases. 

In February, the ChatGPT developer backed a $625 million funding round for Figure AI Inc. at a $2.6 billion valuation. The startup’s newest humanoid robot, the Figure 02, uses artificial intelligence models developed  with OpenAI to process voice commands from warehouse workers. Earlier this year, BMW tested the Figure 02 at one of its car plants by using the machine to move metal parts. 

OpenAI is also an investor in 1X, a Norway-based Figure rival. It has developed a humanoid robot called EVE that travels on a pair of wheels at up to 9.8 miles per hour. The company is currently working on a second, consumer-focused machine that is slower but can perform a broader range of tasks.

For OpenAI, teaming up with a startup such as 1X or Figure to build its humanoid robot could be faster than creating everything from scratch. The ChatGPT developer’s investments in the humanoid robot segment would likely ease the task of finding a design partner. Alternatively, OpenAI could use a portion of its newly raised $6.6 billion funding round to buy an existing market player.

The company is no stranger to robotics. Until 2021, it operated a unit dedicated to developing AI models for autonomous machines. 

The unit achieved several research milestones before shutting down. In one project, OpenAI researchers trained a robotic arm (picture) to solve a Rubik’s cube. The company also open-sourced Roboschool, a collection of simulation tools that can be used to train robots’ onboard AI software. Some of those simulations are geared towards developing humanoid robots.

If it materializes, OpenAI’s foray into robotics could benefit from its rumored efforts to develop custom AI chips.

Reuters recently reported that the company is working with Broadcom Inc. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to develop an inference processor. In theory, OpenAI could leverage those partnerships to commission another custom chip optimized to power its humanoid robot’s onboard AI software. In general, custom processors provide better performance than off-the-shelf silicon because they’re more closely aligned with the host device’s requirements.

Photo: OpenAI