Sci-Fi Goes Real! Humanoid Robots Will Soon Be Among Us, Says Sam Altman
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has sounded a fresh alarm about the future of artificial intelligence and robotics, cautioning that the real disruption is yet to begin. While much of the global conversation around AI has revolved around digital tools like ChatGPT and the impact on white-collar jobs, Altman says the next major shift will come in the form of humanoid robots—and it’s closer than most people realise.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Sam Altman stated, “I don’t think the world has really had the humanoid robot’s moment yet.” He believes that while people might be growing accustomed to AI reshaping desk-based roles like coding, customer support, and data analysis, few are prepared for a future where intelligent robots walk the streets and work alongside humans in everyday settings.
A Sci-Fi Future—But Sooner Than You Think
Sam Altman painted a vivid picture of what’s coming: “You’ll be walking down the street, and there’ll be seven robots walking past you, doing things. It’s gonna feel very sci-fi.” According to him, the sudden physical presence of AI in human form will mark a turning point, reshaping not only industries but society’s relationship with technology.
This isn’t just speculative talk. OpenAI, under Sam Altman’s leadership, is actively collaborating with Figure AI, a robotics startup developing humanoid robots for industrial and commercial use. Earlier this year, the two companies struck a deal to fast-track the development of Figure-01, a humanoid robot that can already perform simple human tasks like operating a coffee machine. The robot achieved this by using AI to mimic human actions—a feat its makers are calling a major step forward in autonomous learning.
A Two-Phase Job Disruption
Altman acknowledges that AI is already shaking up the job market. He describes the transformation as unfolding in two phases: the elimination of certain jobs followed by the emergence of entirely new roles. “AI will totally take some jobs away and create a bunch of new ones,” he said. However, unlike previous waves of automation, Sam Altman believes this change will be more visible, more physical—and perhaps more difficult to adapt to.
His concern isn’t about change itself—technology has always redefined labour—but about the speed and scale at which this new era will unfold. He warns that societies and governments are not adequately prepared for the arrival of intelligent machines that can both think and move.
This warning comes as OpenAI is actively investing in humanoid robotics. Earlier this year, the company entered into a partnership with Figure AI, a startup working on general-purpose humanoid robots. Their joint goal is to accelerate the development of autonomous robots capable of operating across sectors such as logistics, retail, manufacturing, and warehousing.
Figure AI has already unveiled its first prototype — the Figure-01. The robot is designed to address labour shortages by handling physically intensive jobs. In a recent demonstration, Figure-01 was able to make coffee using an AI model that had learned the task by observing humans. Brett Adcock, the founder and CEO of Figure AI, referred to this as a breakthrough in “end-to-end AI,” where a model can learn and complete a task without human coding or micromanagement.
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