OpenAI Revives Robotics, Hiring Engineers to Build Data Centers and Grids 5 Years After 2021 Shutdown
Updated
Updated · Tech Funding News · Jun 1
OpenAI Revives Robotics, Hiring Engineers to Build Data Centers and Grids 5 Years After 2021 Shutdown
5 articles · Updated · Tech Funding News · Jun 1
OpenAI said on May 31 it is actively hiring hardware, systems, ops and ML engineers for a revived robotics unit aimed at robots that help build data centers, power grids and factories.
The push is its clearest return to proprietary robotics since disbanding the team in 2021, shifting from backing startups such as 1X and Figure AI to building its own physical-world AI capability.
Sam Altman framed the near-term goal around supporting skilled infrastructure workers, while keeping a longer-term vision of personal robots for everyone.
The restart also revives safety questions: former robotics hardware lead Caitlin Kalinowski resigned on March 7, citing concerns over OpenAI's Pentagon deal, domestic surveillance and lethal autonomy.
As OpenAI pursues military contracts, can it be trusted to build safe personal robots for our homes?
OpenAI's robots are coming to construction sites. Is this the end of skilled labor as we know it?
Can OpenAI’s AI “brain” conquer the physical world without mastering the robotic “body” itself?
OpenAI Re-Enters Robotics in 2026: Foundational AI Models, Industry Shakeup, and the Path to AGI
Overview
In 2026, OpenAI revived its robotics division, signaling a strong commitment to advancing artificial intelligence beyond digital applications and into the physical world. The company quickly launched an aggressive hiring drive for specialized engineering roles, including Actuator Design Engineers, and established a new team in San Francisco dedicated to pioneering the next generation of robotic intelligence. By focusing on building fundamental hardware components and collaborating with partners across the robotics industry, OpenAI aims to leverage its AI expertise to tackle complex challenges and enable advanced robotics applications.