OpenAI Says the Robot Body Is Not the Hard Part

Sam Altman says OpenAI will build a humanoid robot, and that the body is not the real challenge.

On the Sources podcast, Altman said a humanoid form makes sense because the world is designed for people. He said the robot’s brain matters more than its physical design. He also told Fortune on September 15, 2026 that OpenAI may show a demo in 2027, but that robots will not be walking city streets for a few years after that. OpenAI has not said what the demo will show, what the robot will look like or when outsiders can get access. No price, release date or privacy framework has been announced.

I agree with him on the body. It can certainly be replicated, and there is already proof of it. Human-like reasoning is another matter: a real neural network, or something that simulates one so well that it seems human and can present emotions, is really hard.

I do have faith in humanoid robots, but not in the short term. Maybe five to ten years from now they will be something real. That is only my opinion, but although AI advances quickly, it is still far from working properly in a living environment.

Without a product or a date, this is a statement of intent and not a buying guide. Treat any timeline as a goal until OpenAI shows hardware.