OpenAI disbands its independent robotics team, researchers move into main research and Applied departments
According to Fortune, OpenAI has disbanded its independent robotics team and confirmed the reorganization to the media. Robotics researchers have been moved into the main research team led by Chief Research Officer Mark Chen, while the applied robotics and hardware team has been assigned to the Applied department led by President Greg Brockman.
OpenAI said the move is intended to speed up robotics development by leveraging general-purpose models such as GPT-6 Astra, and is not an exit from the field. A company spokesperson said robotics remains a core part of OpenAI’s long-term vision. The company is currently developing its own humanoid robot, and Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman previously set a goal of a first public demonstration in 2027.
Original source:
Title: Exclusive: OpenAI disbands its stand-alone robotics team as its general models start running robots
Publisher: Fortune
Publication date: 2026-11-13
URL: fortune.com/2026/11/13/openai-disbands-robotics-team-as-its-general-models-start-running-robots
Source nature: Exclusive media report (Fortune confirmed the company’s response)
Verification status: The full report and relevant reprints were actually read for this report
Supported content: Disbanding of the independent robotics team; researchers moved into Mark Chen’s main research team; applied robotics and hardware moved into Greg Brockman’s Applied department; the purpose is to speed up development with general-purpose models such as GPT-6 Astra rather than exit; the 2027 goal for the first public demonstration of a humanoid robot remains in place
ABAB AI Insight
Fortune described OpenAI’s adjustment as disbanding the independent robotics team and redistributing personnel to the main research team and the Applied department. Robotics research has been moved into the team led by Chief Research Officer Mark Chen, while applied robotics and hardware have been moved into the Applied organization led by President Greg Brockman. The company confirmed the reorganization to the media and said the purpose is to speed progress with general-purpose models rather than abandon the field.
The report said OpenAI believes its frontier general-purpose models, including GPT-6 Astra, can already be directly applied to robotics tasks, and that this is driving the disbanding of the independent team. The company also reiterated that robotics remains part of its long-term vision and maintained the previously stated goal by Sam Altman of a first public demonstration of its own humanoid robot in 2027.
Indicators to watch for subsequent progress include the concrete output of the main research team and the Applied department in robotics, further public results showing how models such as GPT-6 Astra perform on robotics tasks, and whether the 2027 demonstration target is updated or given more specific timing and details.
ABAB News · Cognition Law
OpenAI disbanded its independent robotics team and moved personnel into the main research and Applied departments, while saying the move is intended to accelerate the field rather than exit it.
The company cited the direct applicability of general-purpose models such as GPT-6 Astra as the basis for disbanding the independent team.
The goal of a first public demonstration of its own humanoid robot in 2027 remains in place after the reorganization.