OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization, has revived its robotics department, which was previously disbanded. The company's hardware director, Caitlin Kalinowski, announced the revival through a social media post, revealing plans to develop custom robots with human-like intelligence.

Kalinowski, who joined OpenAI from Meta's AR glasses division, highlighted new job listings for the robotics team, which will focus on creating "general-purpose," "adaptive," and "versatile" robots that can operate in "dynamic," "real-world" settings. These robots will be powered by AI models developed internally by OpenAI.

The job listings provide further insight into OpenAI's robotics plans. The company intends to design and develop new sensors and computational elements for its robots, which will be integrated with its AI models to achieve human-like intelligence. One listing mentions the goal of "seamlessly blending high-level AI capabilities with the physical constraints of physical robotic platforms."

Another listing suggests that OpenAI may employ contract workers to test its robotic prototypes, while another implies that the company's robots might have limbs. This has sparked speculation that OpenAI may be working on humanoid robots, a concept that has gained significant attention in recent years.

In fact, The Information recently reported that OpenAI has explored building its own humanoid robot. If successful, OpenAI's robots could reach "full-scale production" in the future, according to one job description. The company is seeking an engineer with experience designing mechanical systems intended for high-volume production (1M+ units).

The robotics sector has seen significant investment, with over $6.4 billion raised from venture capitalists last year, according to Crunchbase. Companies like Bright Machines and Collaborative Robotics have found success in developing software and systems for factory manufacturing, while firms like Carbon Robotics and Bear Robotics are creating AI-enabled robots for specific applications.

Humanoid robots, however, have attracted the most publicity. Companies like X1 and Figure, both backed by OpenAI, are working on general-purpose robots that can move like humans. While the challenges are significant, these companies believe that technology has reached a point where mass-produced humanoid robotic systems are a realistic near-term goal.

OpenAI's revival of its robotics department is not the only hardware project the company is working on. Legendary ex-Apple product designer Jony Ive is collaborating with OpenAI on a new device, and the company is also designing a custom chip for running its AI models. As OpenAI continues to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence, its robotics department is likely to play a critical role in shaping the future of robotics and AI.

The revival of OpenAI's robotics department marks an exciting development in the field of artificial intelligence. As the company works towards creating custom robots with human-like intelligence, it will be interesting to see how this technology evolves and the potential applications it could have in various industries.