OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed on the podcast Sources that the company is developing humanoid robots as well as other forms, stating, "We will definitely make humanoids." When asked whether they are focusing on humanoids or data center machines, he replied that they are working on both.

He explained that the world is built around human bodies: opening doors, typing, operating devices, and cleaning kitchens, so matching humanoid forms requires less environmental modification. However, he emphasized that creating physically capable intelligence is more important than just making a body. Having one robot per person is not the immediate priority; the focus is on infrastructure and manufacturing first. In the long term, he believes everyone should have a personal robot to do tasks they do not want to do.

This is not a new product launch. OpenAI shut down its early robotics team in 2020, restarted in 2024, and plans to officially expand its full-stack hardware, operations, systems, and machine learning positions by the end of May 2026. The number of job openings in San Francisco has increased from about 11 at the start of the division to about 19, with several positions focused on actuators. The team is integrated with the robotics business led by Aditya Ramesh, with short-term goals to assist skilled workers in building data centers and other infrastructure, where non-humanoid specialized machines can be used.

The company previously invested in Figure and collaborated on humanoid intelligence, with the partnership ending in 2025; it remains an investor in the home humanoid company 1X Technologies. There have also been internal discussions about spinning off robotics and consumer hardware for financing, but this was put on hold due to consolidation issues. Altman has mentioned that by 2027, robots capable of working in the real world may emerge, which is a time estimate, not a delivery commitment.

In the first half of 2026, global humanoid shipments are expected to be around 19,100 units, a significant year-on-year increase, with the market narrative shifting from concept to small-scale production. Tesla's Optimus, Boston Dynamics, and various startups are following a model of first creating a body and then layering on models; OpenAI states that hardware and machine learning are designed together to avoid purchasing off-the-shelf bodies and then adding a brain.

In terms of market mechanisms, the valuation premium is for "model companies entering the entity," while the old boundaries are for those only doing cloud-based conversations. Funding will flow towards actuators, remote operation data collection, and data center operations, rather than pre-sales for homes. Beneficiaries will be hardware suppliers that can provide parts and production lines to OpenAI, as well as data factories already running remote operations; those under pressure are humanoid startups that rely solely on OpenAI model licensing without controlling the entity. Personal robots remain a long-term demand, with current orders focused on data centers and production lines.

There are currently no models for walking products; the pricing is first set for narratives and recruitment structures.

Source: Public Information