Report: OpenAI has thought-about growing a humanoid robotic

OpenAI staffers have not too long ago floated the potential for growing a humanoid robotic, The Info reported right now.

The publication realized of the discussions from two individuals with “direct data” of the matter. Particulars concerning the potential venture are scant. It’s unclear when OpenAI is perhaps hoping to introduce the robotic or what use circumstances it might goal.

At the moment, the handful of startups growing humanoid robots are specializing in two fundamental use circumstances. The primary is making warehouses extra environment friendly by automating duties akin to shifting merchandise from one a part of a facility to a different. The opposite goal use case, in flip, helps customers carry out family chores.

OpenAI is an investor in a number of of the businesses constructing robots for these use circumstances. 

In February, the ChatGPT developer backed a $625 million funding spherical for Determine AI Inc. at a $2.6 billion valuation. The startup’s latest humanoid robotic, the Determine 02, makes use of synthetic intelligence fashions developed  with OpenAI to course of voice instructions from warehouse staff. Earlier this yr, BMW examined the Determine 02 at considered one of its automotive crops through the use of the machine to maneuver metallic components. 

OpenAI can be an investor in 1X, a Norway-based Determine rival. It has developed a humanoid robotic known as EVE that travels on a pair of wheels at as much as 9.8 miles per hour. The corporate is presently engaged on a second, consumer-focused machine that’s slower however can carry out a broader vary of duties.

For OpenAI, teaming up with a startup akin to 1X or Determine to construct its humanoid robotic could possibly be sooner than creating all the things from scratch. The ChatGPT developer’s investments within the humanoid robotic phase would seemingly ease the duty of discovering a design companion. Alternatively, OpenAI might use a portion of its newly raised $6.6 billion funding spherical to purchase an current market participant.

The corporate is not any stranger to robotics. Till 2021, it operated a unit devoted to growing AI fashions for autonomous machines. 

The unit achieved a number of analysis milestones earlier than shutting down. In a single venture, OpenAI researchers educated a robotic arm (image) to unravel a Rubik’s dice. The corporate additionally open-sourced Roboschool, a group of simulation instruments that can be utilized to coach robots’ onboard AI software program. A few of these simulations are geared towards growing humanoid robots.

If it materializes, OpenAI’s foray into robotics may benefit from its rumored efforts to develop customized AI chips.

Reuters not too long ago reported that the corporate is working with Broadcom Inc. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to develop an inference processor. In principle, OpenAI might leverage these partnerships to fee one other customized chip optimized to energy its humanoid robotic’s onboard AI software program. Typically, customized processors present higher efficiency than off-the-shelf silicon as a result of they’re extra carefully aligned with the host gadget’s necessities.

Photograph: OpenAI