The age of the OpenAI robot is officially here. Thanks to the pioneering partnership between OpenAI and Figure AI, robots that walk, talk, and work like humans are no longer science fiction—they're real, intelligent, and evolving fast.
From the game-changing Figure 01 to the powerful Helix AI model, this revolution in robotics is pushing boundaries and transforming industries.
OpenAI Robot: The Vision Behind the Machine
The term OpenAI robot refers to the humanoid robots created by Figure AI with brains powered by OpenAI's advanced language and vision models. In early 2024, this collaboration delivered something extraordinary: a general-purpose robot that could see, speak, reason, and act.
Fueled by OpenAI's multimodal intelligence—the same tech behind ChatGPT—these robots could understand human speech, interpret images, and execute complex tasks autonomously. That's why the world began calling them "OpenAI robots."
The Birth of Figure AI and the First OpenAI Robot
Founded in 2022 by Brett Adcock, Figure AI had one bold mission: build humanoid robots that could work alongside humans across industries. Their first milestone came in February 2024, with the unveiling of Figure 01—the world's first OpenAI robot to demonstrate both intelligence and mobility.
What Made Figure 01 an OpenAI Robot?
Natural Language Skills: With OpenAI models, the robot could talk like a human—complete with pauses, context understanding, and smart responses.
Visual Understanding: It could describe scenes, recognize objects, and make real-time decisions—all powered by OpenAI’s multimodal systems.
Autonomous Reasoning: Whether cleaning up or selecting the right object, the OpenAI robot explained its reasoning as it moved.
Full-Body Dexterity: With 24 degrees of freedom and real-time motion control, it performed physical tasks smoothly and safely.
The now-famous demo with Figure 01 in a test kitchen went viral, with many calling it the most impressive OpenAI robot moment yet.
Why the OpenAI Robot Era Pivoted to Helix
In 2025, Figure AI made a surprising announcement: it would stop using OpenAI models and launch its own intelligence platform called Helix. Why? Because although the OpenAI robot was a technological marvel, large language models had become expensive, slow to update, and not tailored to robots.
Enter Helix—a lightweight, high-performance vision-language-action (VLA) model built specifically for robotic control. With it, Figure created the next generation of OpenAI-style robots, but with more speed, agility, and autonomy.
From Figure 01 to Figure 02: The Next OpenAI Robot Generation
In August 2024, Figure 02 took the OpenAI robot legacy to the next level:
More cameras, better sensors.
Stronger GPU and AI processing onboard.
Hands capable of lifting 25 kg.
Live deployment in BMW's manufacturing plant.
Even though Figure 02 ran on Helix, it still drew from the OpenAI robot lineage—combining AI language power with real-world robotics.
Meet Helix: The AI That Outgrew the OpenAI Robot
By February 2025, Figure AI released its most advanced humanoid yet: a robot named Helix, powered entirely by the Helix AI model. Unlike earlier OpenAI robots, Helix doesn't rely on cloud processing or external servers. It's fast, fully onboard, and learns from just 500 hours of training.
What does this mean for the OpenAI robot concept? It's evolved. The DNA of the original OpenAI partnership still runs through these humanoids, but Figure's new generation is leaner, smarter, and more efficient.
Real-World Use of OpenAI Robots and Their Descendants
From BMW factories to logistics centers, OpenAI robots and their Helix-powered descendants are stepping into real-world roles:
Manufacturing: Helping automate repetitive or dangerous tasks.
Warehousing: Lifting, sorting, and navigating complex environments.
Homes (future vision): General-purpose robots doing dishes, taking out the trash, or fetching groceries.
Every robot that followed Figure 01 continues the OpenAI robot tradition: humanoids that communicate naturally, see the world intelligently, and work autonomously.
Final Thoughts: What's Next for the OpenAI Robot Legacy?
The OpenAI robot was more than just a machine—it was a proof of concept for the future of AI-powered robotics. As Figure AI pivots toward its custom Helix model, the legacy of that first breakthrough lives on. Today's Helix robots stand on the shoulders of the OpenAI robot giants that came before them.
As AI continues to accelerate, one thing is clear: the OpenAI robot moment was just the beginning. The era of intelligent, general-purpose humanoids is here—and we're all living in it.
