Published on: May 16, 2025 / update from: May 16, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Openais growing interest in robotics: Focus on open source startup K-scale Labs-creative image: Xpert.digital
Open source in robotics: Openais strategic realignment
K scale Labs: The next big step in the AI-controlled robotics
Openai's latest interest in the open source robotics startup K scale Labs marks an important milestone in the progressive convergence of artificial intelligence and robotics. While AI research and development is making rapid progress, the focus is increasingly focusing on the physical embodiment of this intelligence. The approximation of Openai to K-Scale Labs not only underlines the potential of open source approaches in robotics, but also signals a strategic realignment of one of the leading AI companies worldwide. This report analyzes the background and possible effects of this development as well as the broader implications for the emerging field of AI-controlled robotics.
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Openai's re -entry into the robotics
Openai revived his robotics team after a break of several years, which is a strategic change of course. The company had dissolved its original robotics department in 2020, mainly due to a lack of progress and lack of training data, as Openai co-founder Wojciech Zaremba explained at the time. This decision was made, although the team had achieved remarkable successes, such as the development of a robot arm that could solve a magic cube.
The resumption of the robotics initiative by Openaai is based on several decisive factors. On the one hand, technological advances, especially in the area of multimodal AI models, have opened up new opportunities for robotics. These models can process different types of inputs, such as sensor data and voice commands, which enables robots more intelligent interaction with their surroundings. On the other hand, market dynamics in the field of humanoid robots have experienced an upswing, with impressive advances from companies such as Figure AI and 1x Technologies.
Openai is currently actively recruiting research engineers for his new robotics team, whereby the job advertisements emphasize that the selected candidates will be one of the first members of the team. In contrast to earlier efforts, Openaai focuses on working with existing robot manufacturers instead of competition. The company plans to develop technologies that manufacturers can integrate into their own systems. This collaborative model could help solve one of the main problems that led to closing the original robotics department: the lack of training data.
K scale Labs: Open Source Revolution in Robotics
K-scale Labs, a startup from the winter 2024 batch of the renowned Y Combinator program, has attracted Openai's attention. The company is pursuing a bold mission: the democratization of robotics through open source technology. Your flagship project is called Stompy and is presented as the world's first open-source, universally usable humanoid robot.
What makes Stompy particularly remarkable is its innovative design: a 1.20 meter (4 feet) of large humanoid robots, which is designed in such a way that each part can be produced on a 256 × 256 mm 3D printer bed. The robot has a gripping mechanism based on the “Universal Manipulation Interface” research and can be built with a total material effort of less than $ 10,000. K-scale Labs used for the prototype carbon fiber Paht, but emphasizes that in principle everyone could be used sufficiently stable plastic.
The technical specifications of Stompy are impressive: the actuators are quasi-thirect drives with reduction ratios between 6: 1 and 8: 1, which leads to joints with low inertia and returnability, which provide nominal torque values of 3-12 Nm. Each robot is equipped with an interchangeable 48V 15AH battery pack, which enables an operating time of over an hour.
In addition to Stompy, K-Scale Labs also plans to publish a metal-based robot design, which is called Zeroth Bot V2 and is described as “the most accessible humanoid robot for developers” to “bring AI into the physical world”. This continuous pace of innovation underlines the company's commitment to the further development of open source robotics.
The convergence of AI and robotics
The increasing interlinking of artificial intelligence and robotics is an important trend in the technological landscape. Openai's interest in K-scale Labs is an example of this larger trend, which is referred to as “Great convergence”. This convergence manifests itself in the integration of advanced AI models in physical robot systems, which creates new applications and functionalities.
Openai has already made significant investments in the robotic sector, in particular with a 100 million dollar investment in 1x, a Norwegian company at the top of the AI and robotics innovation. This financing was crucial for the development of Neo, an advanced humanoid robot that represents an interface between modern robotics and artificial intelligence. In addition, the Californian robotics startup child Humanoid has recently taken over 1x, which reflects consolidation and growth in this sector.
The revival of the Openai Robotics team focuses on the development of multimodal large Language models (LLMS), which are specially developed for robot applications. This integration could revolutionize the way in which robots interact with their surroundings and manage complex tasks. Caitlin Kalinowski, a member of the technical staff at Openaai and formerly head of AR glasses at Meta, has announced that the company fills its first hardware robotics roles. These positions include a system integration engineer for electrical engineering, a mechanical product engineer for robotics and a TPM manager in the robotics team.
Potential of the open source approach in robotics
The open source approach in robotics, as followed by K-Scale Labs, has the potential to fundamentally change the field by reducing access hurdles and democratized. In an industry that is traditionally shaped by proprietary technologies and high entry hurdles, this approach represents a paradigm shift. K-scale Labs' vision is "to enable a world with a billion of humanoid robots" by reducing barriers and creating opportunities for everyone to take part in this "robotic revolution".
Other companies in the field of open source robotics include Evezor, Clearpath Robotics, Nvidia, Husarion and Picknik Robotics. These companies contribute to the growing community that recognizes the value of open technologies in robotics. The “Open-Core” business model, in which a free, source-open version is offered for hobbyists and small developers, while commercial companies pay for premium functions, has proven to be viable. However, Andrew Wingate from Evezor emphasizes that developers of robotics should prioritize sustainability and that commercial users should always contribute to the project financially or otherwise.
K-Scale Labs not only disclosed hardware designs, but also developed a complete ecosystem. This includes an operating system for humanoid robots, which differs from ROS (Robot Operating System) by offering simpler installation and operation. The software infrastructure also includes tools for generating URDF files (Unified Robot Description Format) from CAD models and libraries for training control algorithms in simulation environments.
The founders of K-Scale Labs bring impressive references: CEO Benjamin Bolte worked at Tesla and Meta Ai, Hardware director Matt Freed has experience with General Dynamics Electric Boat, and software manager Pawian Budzianowski received his doctorate in dialog systems at the University of Cambridge. This collective expertise drives the ambitious goal of integrating humanoid robots into everyday life.
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Meaning for the industry
The approach of Openaai to K-Scale Labs and the general revival of interest in robotics could have profound effects on the entire technology industry. The combination of advanced AI models with physical robot systems opens up new opportunities for applications in various areas, from industrial production to household tasks.
The vision of K-Scale Labs to enable a world with a billion of humanoid robots reflects the conviction that robots will be omnipresent in the future. This democratization of robot technology could lead to an explosion of innovations, similar to how we saw it in democratizing software development through open source movements. The approach of K-scale Labs to make fully functional humanoid robots accessible to everyone could fundamentally change the way we think about robotics and how it is developed.
Openai's commitment in this area is particularly important because the company is at the forefront of AI research. The integration of your AI models into robotics systems could lead to a new generation of robots that are better able to understand and carry out complex tasks. The collaborative model that Openai pursues could also help to overcome one of the main obstacles in robotics: the lack of training data.
In the long term, the fusion of AI and robotics could lead to profound changes in different areas. In industry, AI-controlled robots could become more flexible and adaptable, which opens up new production opportunities. In the domestic area, generally usable humanoid robots could take on everyday tasks, which changes the way we live and work.
The open source transformation in robotics: visions of Openaai and K scale Labs
The growing interest of Openai of K-Scale Labs and the robotics in general marks an important turning point in the development of intelligent machines. The convergence of AI and robotics, promoted by open source approaches, has the potential to expand the limits of what robots can do and make the technology accessible to a wider audience.
The combination of openais expertise in AI with the innovative, open approach of K-Scale Labs could lead to groundbreaking progress. The focus on cooperation and open exchange could accelerate the development and lead to more robust, more versatile robot systems. The vision of a future in which intelligent robots are omnipresent and accessible is moving a step closer.
While the technological challenges remain significant, the development indicates a future in which the boundaries between digital and physical world are increasingly blurring. The next few years will be decisive to see how this convergence develops and what new opportunities it opens up for society. The commitment of companies such as Openaai and K scale Labs underlines the enormous potential that is in this emerging field.
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