OpenAI is building a humanoid robot, but the body isn’t the real challenge

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman says the company will build a humanoid robot, arguing that a human-shaped body would suit spaces designed for people. He says the harder problem is developing the intelligence that lets a robot understand its surroundings, follow instructions and act reliably, so the project remains some way from becoming a product.

Altman told Fortune he expects a demonstration in 2027, while robots walking the streets may be several years further off. OpenAI is hiring across robotics software and hardware, with a stated near-term aim of helping skilled workers build infrastructure and a longer-term goal of personal robots for varied tasks. The company has not announced the robot’s design, release date, price or privacy framework.