If you consider headphones, AR/VR headsets, and good jewellery firms OpenAI could not come to thoughts. Nonetheless, a brand new trademark submitting suggests which may quickly change.
OpenAI filed a trademark software on January 31 with the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO), noticed by TechCrunch. The appliance consists of an in depth checklist of software program choices, together with cloud computing, machine studying, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) — all of which aren’t sudden for a corporation like OpenAI. Nonetheless, sprinkled inside the checklist are a big variety of {hardware} merchandise.
The {hardware} merchandise embrace earphones, headphones, sun shades, good watches, good bands, good jewellery, wearable computer systems, wearable cameras, digital media streaming gadgets, digital and augmented actuality headsets, goggles, glasses, controllers, and remotes.
Wearables
The frequent thread amongst these merchandise is that they’re all wearables, which align completely with OpenAI’s present choices. One factor that giant language fashions (LLMs) can do very properly is synthesize sturdy quantities of information and draw insights. Then these insights could be shared in a conversational matter and formatted to be digestible.
For that cause, many AI wellness wearables available on the market are already incorporating AI inside their platforms. For instance, the Whoop band has an OpenAI-powered Whoop Coach, a conversational chatbot you need to use to study extra about your well being knowledge and life habits. In the end, LLMs assist customers make sense of the expansive knowledge their wearables acquire.
Sensible sun shades and AR/VR headsets are one other pure area for OpenAI to discover, as these merchandise have a heavy AI presence. For instance, the Meta Rayban AI and Meta Quest 3 headset incorporate Meta AI to help you with on a regular basis duties, the best way a extra superior AI assistant would.
Different new merchandise, such because the Halliday and Even Realities sun shades, incorporate AI to offer related superior help, similar to transcribing and translating audio in real-time. Past voice assistants, machine studying methods play a task in coaching and enhancing the efficiency of AR/VR headsets for laptop imaginative and prescient and object recognition.
Robots
One other fascinating merchandise on the checklist was the reference to humanoid robots. The report particularly mentions, “Person-programmable humanoid robots, not configured,” and “Humanoid robots having communication and studying capabilities for aiding and entertaining individuals.”
This point out of humanoid robots aligns with OpenAI’s new job listings on its robotics staff made earlier this month. The positions embrace EE Sensing Engineer, Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer, and TPM Supervisor.
On the time, Caitlin Kalinowski, who joined OpenAI in November to guide the robotics and client {hardware} staff, mentioned it was but to be decided whether or not the main focus was to be humanoid robots. She additionally added, in reply to a consumer involved about OpenAI’s entry into {hardware}, “Think about having the ability to ship a robotic to do a job that is actually harmful for a human.”
Simply yesterday, Determine AI, the robotics firm, introduced it was ending its partnership with OpenAI to deal with constructing its personal in-house AI. This might now lead OpenAI to construct its personal robots in-house.
What now?
OpenAI has grown ChatGPT into many various choices and merchandise, together with ChatGPT for Enterprise, Gov and Edu, ChatGPT Search, and extra. {Hardware} is the logical subsequent frontier for the AI analysis firm. Nonetheless, that does not imply an OpenAI {hardware} providing can be available on the market any time quickly.
It’s normal follow for firms to make most of these filings whereas exploring new concepts; typically, such initiatives by no means see the sunshine of day. Even when any of those initiatives do come to fruition, it might be an extended roadmap earlier than any can be found to customers.
What you may count on quickly is for OpenAI to proceed increasing its AI software program choices, notably in ChatGPT. Previously week alome, OpenAI unveiled its o3-mini mannequin and Deep Analysis — every one advancing the diploma of help customers can get from the chatbot.