Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is backing a discreet physical AI startup named Alfred, which is co-led by former employees from Tesla and Meta. This move highlights the growing interest from investors in the field of robotics.
Alfred, which is now seeking funding at a valuation of $40 million, has attracted backing from notable investors including Khosla Ventures, SV Angel, and Chapter One, as revealed by internal documents reviewed by Business Insider. Co-founder Ankit Ukil, a former designer at Tesla, leads the company alongside Dömötör Gulyas, who previously worked as an engineer at Meta Reality Labs.
This development arrives at a time when venture capital is heavily investing in physical AI—a sector that merges artificial intelligence with mobile machines such as robots. Notably, in April, startups in this domain secured about $5.3 billion in funding, per data from Crunchbase.
Major technology corporations are also joining the rush to innovate in robotics. Recently, at Nvidia's GTC Taipei event, the company unveiled an upcoming standard blueprint for humanoid robots, aimed at researchers and slated for release in late 2026.
Altman shared his enthusiasm for robotics on X, expressing that it represents an exciting new avenue for OpenAI. He stated, "In the short term, we are focused on robots to support skilled workers to build our future infrastructure; in the long term, we imagine everyone having a personal robot doing anything they need."
Beyond his involvement with OpenAI, Altman is also investing in this new sector through his venture capital firm, Hydrazine Capital. Ukil shared that his connection with Altman stems from their mutual passion for automobiles. He noted, "He's a big car guy," explaining that Altman's faith in him began even before the formation of Alfred.
The startup's team comprises professionals with backgrounds from companies like Ford and Honda, and it was officially established just nine months ago. Its headquarters are located in Hawthorne, California, close to the SpaceX facility where Falcon rockets are manufactured.
Alfred aims to market a software platform designed to expedite the engineering process, allowing engineers to concentrate on enhancing product features, much like the innovative elements found in recent Chinese electric vehicles, as described by Ukil.
Currently, Alfred is actively engaging in discussions with several automakers and defense and robotics firms regarding its flagship platform, which is still in development.
Over the last decade and a half, Altman has made numerous investments—over 170, according to PitchBook—in various startups, including Alfred through Hydrazine Capital. Although he possesses no equity in OpenAI, his diverse investment portfolio, featuring stakes in Stripe, Reddit, and Helion Energy, has contributed to his substantial wealth.
