Altman Says OpenAI Will Aim Its Robots at Building Data Centers

Oct 29, 2026
Sam Altman said OpenAI will point its robotics programme at building data centres, calling self-replicating data centres "within grasp."

OpenAI will point its robotics programme at building data centres, CEO Sam Altman said on Stripe co-founder John Collison's Cheeky Pint podcast, The Next Web reported. He called self-replicating data centres, built with AI-controlled robots, "within grasp."

"People talk a lot about RSI as an AI that does AI research. There's very little, relatively little talk about self-replicating data centers," Altman said. He described robots running chip factories, building turbines and solar panels, and building data centres: "And so we'll try to make a lot of really cheap compute."

Altman said OpenAI has made its own chip, which he said does well on intelligence per watt, and is learning to build its own data centres. On why high memory and chip prices have not brought more supply, he said: "I think the invisible hand is failing right now."

We hope you enjoyed this article

Consider subscribing to one of our newsletters like Silicon Brief, Robotics Brief or Daily AI Brief.

Also, consider following us on social media:

Free newsletter

Robotics Brief

Weekly coverage of AI-driven robotics advances in industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, and robotic systems.

Market report

2025 Generative AI in Professional Services Report

Thomson Reuters

This report by Thomson Reuters explores the integration and impact of generative AI technologies, such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, within the professional services sector. It highlights the growing adoption of GenAI tools across industries like legal, tax, accounting, and government, and discusses the challenges and opportunities these technologies present. The report also examines professionals' perceptions of GenAI and the need for strategic integration to maximize its value.

Read more
Free, six days a week

Daily AI Brief: the AI news that matters, in your inbox.