OpenAI’s Back, Baby! This Time, They’re Playing Nice with Robots

Remember that time when OpenAI, the AI wizards who practically invented “mind-blowing tech,” decided to ditch robotics? Yeah, well, scratch that. They’re back in the robot game, and this time, they’re not messing around.

Seems like the recent explosion of AI-powered robots kinda, sorta, totally convinced OpenAI to jump back on the bandwagon. And guess what? They’re not building robots from scratch this time. Instead, they’re all about teamwork, partnering up with the bigwigs of the robot world.

Rebooting the Robot Squad

Forbes Spills the Tea

Word on the street (or rather, straight from Forbes) is that OpenAI started putting together a brand-spanking-new robotics team a couple of months ago. They’ve been kinda hush-hush about it, but their job postings tell a different story.

Decoding the Job Boards

While OpenAI’s being a bit vague about their master plan (you know, gotta keep us guessing), their job descriptions offer some juicy hints. Think training super-smart “multimodal models” (fancy way of saying AI that understands more than just text), creating cool features for their partners, and basically becoming the ultimate robot whisperers by optimizing those AI models to the max.

We’re talking diving deep into the nitty-gritty of model architectures, gathering tons of robot data like it’s going out of style, and running endless evaluations to make sure those robots are on their A-game.

Sharing is Caring (and Good for Business)

No More Lone Wolf

Sources say OpenAI’s ditching the “I can do it all by myself” attitude this time around. Instead of pouring resources into building their own hardware, they’re all about integrating their AI magic into existing robotic systems. Talk about a glow-up in the collaboration department, right?

This whole “let’s work together” vibe is a far cry from their previous quest to create a do-it-all, general-purpose robot. Looks like they’ve learned that sometimes, two heads (or, you know, a bunch of brilliant minds) are better than one.

Backing the Bots of Tomorrow

Investing in Humanoid Dreams

OpenAI’s not just talking the talk; they’re walking the walk (or should we say, funding the walk?). Get this: their venture capital arm’s been on a bit of a spending spree, throwing money at some seriously cool humanoid robot companies over the past year.

We’re talking about the likes of Figure AI, 1X Technologies, and Physical Intelligence – basically, the rockstars of the humanoid robot scene.

Figure AI Steals the Show

Speaking of rockstars, Figure AI recently blew everyone’s minds with their humanoid robot, the aptly named Figure 01. And guess what’s powering this bad boy? You got it – OpenAI’s massive, brain-melting multimodal models. Talk about a match made in AI heaven!

From the Horse’s (Well, VP’s) Mouth

Welinder Confirms: “We’re Back, Robots!”

No more whispers and rumors, folks. Peter Welinder, OpenAI’s VP of Product and Partnerships, officially confirmed their grand return to the robotics arena. He couldn’t help but gush about the mind-blowing potential of humanoid robots, especially after witnessing their collaboration with Figure AI firsthand.

A Blast from the Past

A little birdie (okay, fine, it was LinkedIn) told us that Welinder’s no stranger to the world of robots. Turns out, he was knee-deep in OpenAI’s robotics team from 2017 to 2020. Talk about coming full circle, right?

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Robots: A Core Obsession

Let’s be real – robotics has always been OpenAI’s jam. It’s like that one ex you just can’t seem to forget (except this time, they’re actually coming back). Co-founder Wojciech Zaremba was the OG robot whisperer, leading the charge to create a robot that could do it all – the ultimate jack-of-all-trades.

Remember the Rubik’s Cube?

Back in 2019, OpenAI’s researchers made headlines with a mind-blowing paper. They trained a neural network to solve a Rubik’s Cube using a robotic arm. Yeah, you read that right. Talk about showing that puzzle who’s boss.

The Curious Case of the Vanishing Robots

The Great Robot Exodus of 2021

Then, in a plot twist no one saw coming, OpenAI slammed the brakes on their robotics research in 2021. Poof! Just like that, the team disbanded. Zaremba blamed it on a severe lack of training data. It’s like trying to teach a dog to fetch without a tennis ball – not gonna happen.

Shifting Priorities

With their robot dreams on hold, OpenAI decided to focus on areas where data flowed like a bottomless mimosa. Think language models like GPT – you know, the ones that can practically write a novel while you’re blinking.

Where Are They Now?

The Scattered Brains of OpenAI

So, what happened to all those brilliant minds who were supposed to usher in the era of robot overlords (just kidding… maybe)? Well, they didn’t exactly disappear into the ether. They just, you know, found new things to geek out about within the walls of OpenAI.

• Zaremba: Our resident robot guru moved on to bigger and better things – literally. He’s been busy helping develop those mind-blowing GPT models that everyone’s obsessed with.
• Welinder: Remember him? Our VP of Product and Partnerships? He’s basically become the king of schmoozing, building bridges between OpenAI and the rest of the tech world.
• Bob McGrew: The research guru, the data whisperer, the one and only Bob McGrew took the reins as head of research. Talk about a promotion!
• Lilian Weng: Last but not least, Lilian Weng, the safety queen herself, swooped in to lead the safety systems team. Because, let’s face it, even robots need a guardian angel.

The Future is Collaborative (and Hopefully, Robot-Filled)

OpenAI’s Back, and They Mean Business

OpenAI’s grand return to the robotics scene is like a beacon of hope for all us robot enthusiasts. This time, they’re not just playing around; they’re here to make a real impact. By ditching the “go-it-alone” mentality and embracing the power of collaboration, OpenAI’s poised to revolutionize the way we interact with robots. And hey, who knows? Maybe this time, those robot overlords will be friendly.