OpenAI may be considering a shift towards the hardware sector by developing artificial intelligence (AI) devices, including humanoid robots. Last week, the San Francisco-based AI company submitted a trademark application to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that enumerated a significant variety of consumer electronics that the organization might produce soon. The application also suggests possibilities for AI chipsets, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) systems, and comprehensive and cloud-to-edge solutions for software creation.
OpenAI Could Enter the Consumer Hardware Space
On January 31, a new trademark application was submitted to the USPTO, with the applicant named OpenAI. Generally, companies submit trademark applications for numerous reasons, and the submission does not carry any further implications. Nonetheless, in the instance of OpenAI, the application lists numerous hardware products that may indicate the company’s intentions to enter this market.
In the goods and services segment, the application references devices including earphones, headphones, smartwatches, smart jewelry, media streaming gadgets, AR/VR headgear, glasses, and user-programmable humanoid robots. There were also indications of AI chipsets designed to utilize “quantum computing resources to enhance AI model functionality. ”
Additionally, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman informed the South Korean publication The Elec on Monday that the organization is exploring the development of generative AI-powered devices through collaborations with various companies.
Humanoid robots have also been a subject of interest within the organization. A report from the previous year revealed that the company is contemplating the creation of robots that resemble humans. In 2024, multiple job postings from OpenAI were identified, seeking research engineers to be part of a robotics team. Notably, OpenAI has also invested in several robotics startups, including Figure AI, 1X Technologies, and Physical Intelligence.
The reference to “user-programmed” in the application listing is particularly noteworthy. This implies that OpenAI may be interested in creating humanoid robots capable of executing a wide array of tasks and customizable for particular functions. Such robots might leverage generative AI and could be trained in a simulation environment. Importantly, Nvidia recently launched its Cosmos platform, which can replicate real-world situations to train robots and autonomous vehicles.
Nevertheless, the fact that the company has named a wide range of devices in the trademark application does not automatically indicate that OpenAI will begin developing and releasing these products in the upcoming years. Currently, there are no public records showing the company is engaged in any hardware product development.
