While much of the global focus remains on artificial intelligence disrupting office-based roles, OpenAI’s chief executive has pointed to an entirely different shift that could blindside the public.
During a recent appearance on Bloomberg, Sam Altman emphasized that the emergence of humanoid robots will likely trigger a more jarring social reaction than the current evolution of AI software. He suggested that most people still treat AI as something abstract—linked to code generation or automated customer service. But in his view, the arrival of lifelike machines performing physical tasks in public spaces will strike a much deeper chord.
Altman described a near-future scenario where everyday life includes regular encounters with robots moving alongside humans on sidewalks, operating in visible jobs across sectors like logistics, warehouses, and retail. That encounter, he believes, will generate a stronger emotional response than AI systems working behind screens.
Image: Bloomberg Business
The timeline, according to Altman, isn’t theoretical or far-fetched. OpenAI recently formed a strategic partnership with Figure AI, a robotics startup building general-purpose humanoid machines aimed at integrating into daily workflows. Their prototype, the Figure-01, is being designed to assist with real-world labor in environments where physical presence matters. Manufacturing floors, store aisles, and supply chains could soon rely on machines built to operate like people—but without the same limits.
In Altman’s assessment, the acceleration of such tech will lead to a reshaping of the labor market. He acknowledged that while AI software is already altering knowledge work, physical robotics could redefine tasks once considered uniquely human. He anticipates job displacement and job creation will unfold side by side, driven by machines that no longer live behind screens.
Despite his long-standing involvement in frontier technologies, Altman remained cautious about forecasting long-term outcomes. He acknowledged that the broader consequences of this shift—socially, economically, and culturally—remain hard to predict.
Read next: News Media Alliance Denounces Google’s AI Mode Rollout, Citing Harm to Publishers
During a recent appearance on Bloomberg, Sam Altman emphasized that the emergence of humanoid robots will likely trigger a more jarring social reaction than the current evolution of AI software. He suggested that most people still treat AI as something abstract—linked to code generation or automated customer service. But in his view, the arrival of lifelike machines performing physical tasks in public spaces will strike a much deeper chord.
Altman described a near-future scenario where everyday life includes regular encounters with robots moving alongside humans on sidewalks, operating in visible jobs across sectors like logistics, warehouses, and retail. That encounter, he believes, will generate a stronger emotional response than AI systems working behind screens.
Image: Bloomberg Business
The timeline, according to Altman, isn’t theoretical or far-fetched. OpenAI recently formed a strategic partnership with Figure AI, a robotics startup building general-purpose humanoid machines aimed at integrating into daily workflows. Their prototype, the Figure-01, is being designed to assist with real-world labor in environments where physical presence matters. Manufacturing floors, store aisles, and supply chains could soon rely on machines built to operate like people—but without the same limits.
In Altman’s assessment, the acceleration of such tech will lead to a reshaping of the labor market. He acknowledged that while AI software is already altering knowledge work, physical robotics could redefine tasks once considered uniquely human. He anticipates job displacement and job creation will unfold side by side, driven by machines that no longer live behind screens.
Despite his long-standing involvement in frontier technologies, Altman remained cautious about forecasting long-term outcomes. He acknowledged that the broader consequences of this shift—socially, economically, and culturally—remain hard to predict.
Read next: News Media Alliance Denounces Google’s AI Mode Rollout, Citing Harm to Publishers
