OpenAI is building a humanoid robot. Asked on the Sources podcast whether OpenAI would actually build one, CEO Sam Altman answered simply: "We will." He argued the human form makes sense because "the world is very much designed for people" — doors, keyboards and tools all assume a human body, so "matching that form factor seems good."

Altman was clear the hard part is not the body. Design details are "less important than really figuring out ... the brain that makes the robot work," he said — the perception, decision-making and movement software that has to adapt when the physical world does not go to plan. Engadget notes OpenAI is hiring across robotics, including motion control, whole-robot behavior, state estimation, actuator control and machine-learning infrastructure for physical AI, with listings pointing to custom electromechanical actuators and manufacturing at scale.

This is still a long way from a product. Altman told Fortune: "I think we'll have a cool demo in 2027 ... I don't think there will be robots walking the streets for a few years longer." OpenAI has not disclosed a design, price or release date, and it previously partnered with and invested in humanoid firms Figure and 1X before ending the Figure collaboration in 2025.