An Open Source Pioneer Wants to Unleash Open Source AI Robots

Lapeyre says that selling humanoid robots remains challenging because the use cases are unclear and the systems are still unreliable—though some companies are starting to find success. Many AI models, software frameworks, and tools that researchers and engineers rely on to build AI models and applications are already open source. Making hardware open source typically means releasing designs, component details, and 3D models that allow pieces to be manufactured more easily. The availability of powerful open weight AI models has made it easier for researchers and startups to experiment with cutting edge AI, as they can see how models work and modify the code. Robot developers “can print a part if something is broken,” he says, adding, “if something is not perfect, they can make it a bit better by adding a new part.” The current AI boom has coincided with renewed interest in robotics, as the latest models help enable new advances in the capabilities of hardware systems.