OpenAI might be gearing up for a foray into hardware, with plans to create AI-powered devices — think humanoid robots. The AI company, which is based in San Francisco, recently submitted a trademark application indicating that it might manufacture a range of consumer devices, according to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The filing further suggests artificial intelligence (AI) chipsets, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) platforms, and cloud-to-edge solutions for software development.
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OpenAI Trademark Filing Hints at AI Hardware, Including Humanoid Robots
The trademark application — filed on January 31 in OpenAI’s name — doesn’t mean the company has any imminent plans for hardware products but does indicate its interest in developing them. Earphones, headphones, smart watches, smart jewelry, media streaming devices, AR/VR headsets, smart glasses, and user-programmable humanoid robots are all mentioned under the goods/services heading. It also mentions AI chipsets tailored to optimize model performance with the available quantum computing resources.
OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman just shared with Korean newspaper The Elec that the company is working with companies to create hardware-powered generative AI devices. Previous reports also noted that humanoid robots have been the subject of internal conversations, with job postings in 2024 indicating the company was hiring research engineers as part of a robotics group. OpenAI has additionally made some investments in robotics startups like Figure AI, 1X Technologies, and Physical Intelligence.
The phrase “user-programmed” in the filing indicates that OpenAI may be exploring the possibility of robots that could handle various tasks and be customized for tasks. Such robots could leverage generative AI and be trained in simulated environments, similar to Nvidia’s recently launched Cosmos platform, which enables real-world scenario simulations for autonomous systems. Despite the trademark application covering a broad range of hardware, it does not necessarily mean OpenAI will launch these products soon. As of now, there are no confirmed reports of the company actively developing any hardware devices.
FAQs
Is OpenAI planning to build humanoid robots?
Yes, OpenAI has hinted at developing user-programmable humanoid robots.
What devices could OpenAI be working on?
OpenAI’s trademark filing lists gadgets like AR/VR headsets, smartwatches, and AI chipsets.
