The tech world is buzzing with speculation after a viral post suggested that Sam Altman’s collaboration with former Apple design chief Jony Ive might be aimed at something far more ambitious than wearable devices. The image shared in the post depicts what appears to be designers working on a humanoid robot prototype, fueling theories that OpenAI may be pushing into physical robotics in a major way.
This development aligns with OpenAI’s known robotics ambitions. Automate 2025 Showcases Next-Gen Robotics to 40,000 Attendees Earlier this year, the company made headlines by offering eye-popping $530K salaries to robotics engineers as part of their push to “make AI move in the real world.” The potential Altman-Ive collaboration could represent OpenAI’s strategic move to challenge competitors like Tesla and Figure in the emerging humanoid robot market.
While no official announcement has been made regarding the specific nature of their hardware project, the timing is significant. With Altman’s ongoing rivalry with Elon Musk intensifying and AI companies increasingly looking to bridge the gap between software and hardware, a sophisticated robot design would be a logical next step. Whatever they’re building, it seems increasingly unlikely to be just another fitness tracker.