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

Altman's focus on intelligence shouldn't be mistaken for OpenAI treating the hardware as an afterthought. The company's robotics job listings indicate it is working on custom electromechanical actuators that include motors, transmissions, sensing and thermal systems, while other positions cover manufacturing and the supply chain needed to eventually produce hardware at scale. OpenAI is also not entering uncharted territory. Tesla has been working on Optimus for years, and XPENG recently had its IRON humanoid autonomously walk off the production line after being assembled. Both are good reminders that even smart software has to coax a very complex set of motors and joints into action.