OpenAI Expands into Humanoid Robots, Hiring Top AI Researchers

OpenAI, the AI company backed by Microsoft, is intensifying its efforts in the field of humanoid robots. The company, valued at 500 billion dollars, is actively recruiting top-tier AI application researchers focused on developing AI models for controlling humanoid robots. This move indicates OpenAI's ambition to leverage its expertise in AI large models and generative AI applications to advance the practical deployment and social penetration of humanoid robots globally.

OpenAI's recent hiring spree includes Chengshu Li, who joined the company from Stanford University this summer. Li's research focuses on developing humanoid robots capable of performing multiple household tasks. Additionally, OpenAI has posted job openings for senior robotics engineers, including roles for an EE senior sensor engineer, a robotics mechanical design engineer, and a TPM professional manager. These positions underscore the company's commitment to advancing the hardware systems of humanoid robots.

OpenAI's leadership has expressed a vision for humanoid robots to play a pivotal role in societal progress. The company's CEO has stated that if the initial million humanoid robots are manufactured traditionally, they could subsequently operate an extensive industrial and supply chain, including mining, refining, driving trucks, and running factories. This would significantly accelerate human societal progress.

The trend towards humanoid robots is driven by the global shift from labor shortages to severe labor shortages in developed economies. Aging populations and service industry labor shortages are pushing automation towards more versatile humanoid robot forms. As AI technology rapidly advances, humanoid robots with the ability to mimic human behavior, deep learning, and natural communication are poised to become the largest-scale carriers of AI technology.

Specialists in the field have noted that OpenAI's strategic shift towards humanoid robots comes at a time when the industry is re-evaluating the development path of large language models. With the development of GPT-5 seemingly reaching a plateau, AI experts suggest that the next breakthrough may come from interacting with the physical world.

OpenAI's renewed focus on humanoid robots positions it in a highly competitive market. Companies like Figure, Agility, and Apptronik, along with tech giants like Tesla and Google, are heavily investing in the development and testing of humanoid robots. Despite the intense competition, the market for humanoid robots is heating up, with over 50 billion dollars invested in startups since the beginning of 2024. The potential market value of this industry is projected to reach 5 trillion dollars by 2050, although current humanoid robots still struggle with complex, unpredictable environments.

OpenAI's strategic move to re-enter the robotics field, after dissolving its robotics department in 2021, signals a broader industry trend. The company's hiring of experts in humanoid robot control algorithms and its job postings for roles involving remote operation and simulation indicate a clear focus on this technology. This shift suggests that achieving the ultimate goal of general AI (AGI) may require more than just software and data, necessitating interaction with the physical world.

OpenAI's efforts in the humanoid robot sector are part of a larger trend in the AI industry. Companies like Tesla and NVIDIA are also making significant strides in this area. Tesla's Optimus robot, for example, is designed to become a major value driver for the company, with plans to produce tens of thousands of units by 2027. NVIDIA, on the other hand, is focusing on providing the computational power and platforms needed for humanoid robots, positioning itself as a key player in the AI and robotics ecosystem.

As the competition in the humanoid robot sector intensifies, OpenAI's strategic investments and hiring efforts position it as a major player in this rapidly evolving field. The company's focus on developing AI models for controlling humanoid robots, along with its vision for societal progress through automation, underscores its commitment to advancing AI technology and its applications in the real world.