On the eve of going public, OpenAI once discussed splitting the robot and hardware business divisions.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed at the end of last year a plan to separate the company's robotics department from its consumer hardware division. The purpose of this move was to give both businesses greater room for development while avoiding dragging down the group's core business. According to informed sources, the initial plan was for these two separate new companies to be able to independently raise funds and operate autonomously. However, this plan was ultimately vetoed, in part because OpenAI determined that these new entities would still need to be incorporated into the group's consolidated balance sheet, and complete financial isolation would not be possible. This proposal for separation reflects the difficult trade-offs that OpenAI had to face during its IPO process.