AI startup OpenAI has filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), hinting at an ambitious expansion of its product line into AI-powered hardware and robotics. The application, filed last Friday, lists a range of products, including headphones, goggles, glasses, remotes, laptop and phone cases, smartwatches, smart jewelry, and virtual and augmented reality headsets, all designed for "AI-assisted interaction, simulation, and training."

This development comes on the heels of OpenAI's confirmation last year that it was working with former Apple designer Jony Ive on a hardware project. In a recent interview with Korean outlet The Elect, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that the startup hopes to develop AI-powered consumer hardware "through partnerships with multiple companies." However, Altman cautioned that it would take "several years" to complete even a prototype AI device.

The trademark application also mentions robots, specifically "user-programmable humanoid robots" and "humanoid robots having communication and learning functions for assisting and entertaining people." This is not a surprise, given OpenAI's recent hiring of Caitlin Kalinowski, who joined the startup to lead hardware last November from Meta's AR glasses division. According to job listings and reporting from The Information, OpenAI is looking to test robots – possibly humanoid in form – powered by custom sensors and AI that can operate with human-like intelligence in real-world settings.

Further down in its filing, OpenAI makes references to custom AI chips and services for "leveraging quantum computing resources to optimize AI model performance." This has long been rumored, with reports suggesting that OpenAI aims to bring a custom chip to market with semiconductor manufacturers Broadcom and TSMC as early as 2026. The company has a division focused on co-designing chip components, and the potential benefits of custom AI chips are significant, particularly in terms of improving the efficiency of AI model training.

OpenAI's plans for quantum computing are less clear, but the startup has added a former quantum systems architect at quantum computing startup PsiQuantum to its technical team. As noted by The Register, quantum computing has the potential to drastically improve the efficiency of training AI models thanks to its ability to perform vast numbers of calculations simultaneously. With the computing costs of AI showing no signs of coming down anytime soon, it's possible that OpenAI sees a future in training models on hardware far architecturally different than the machines on which it relies today.

The implications of OpenAI's plans are significant, with the potential to transform the AI landscape and push the boundaries of what is possible with AI-powered hardware and robotics. While the timeline for these developments is uncertain, one thing is clear: OpenAI is betting big on the future of AI, and its ambitions could have far-reaching consequences for the tech industry as a whole.

As the AI startup continues to expand its product line and push the boundaries of what is possible with AI, one thing is certain – the future of AI is looking brighter than ever. With its sights set on developing AI-powered consumer hardware, robots, and custom AI chips, OpenAI is poised to make a significant impact on the tech industry in the years to come.