Former Meta executive Caitlin Kalinowski has joined OpenAI, as announced on her LinkedIn page, where she shared that she will be leading OpenAI’s robotics and consumer devices practice. OpenAI confirmed the appointment, highlighting Kalinowski’s expertise in augmented reality (AR) and consumer electronics, and expressed confidence that her experience will accelerate the integration of AI into real-world applications for broad-scale use.
Kalinowski’s Journey from Meta and Apple
Kalinowski joined Meta in 2022, where she oversaw the Orion AR glasses project showcased at the annual Meta Connect conference. In addition to her AR work, she directed virtual reality (VR) initiatives at Meta for nearly a decade. Her prior role at Apple included hardware design for MacBooks, which provided her with essential experience in high-quality consumer electronics design. This diverse background in both AR and VR positions her well to expand OpenAI’s reach in consumer device innovation.
In her statement about joining OpenAI, Kalinowski noted, “I am excited to join the OpenAI team as the head of robotics and consumer devices. In my new role, I will focus on OpenAI’s robotics projects and developing partnerships to bring AI into the physical realm and unlock its power for the benefit of humanity.” Her new position at OpenAI marks a continued commitment to advancing the application of AI and robotics in practical, consumer-facing solutions.
Future Projects and Collaboration with Jony Ive
Kalinowski is expected to collaborate with Jony Ive, the former Apple executive now leading LoveFrom, who has been working with OpenAI on developing an innovative AI hardware solution. Ive has described their upcoming device as “less socially disruptive than the iPhone,” suggesting a vision of AI-enhanced hardware that integrates seamlessly into everyday life. This collaboration, bringing together Kalinowski’s consumer electronics expertise and Ive’s design philosophy, may lead to a groundbreaking format for AI-human interaction.
In line with these ambitions, OpenAI recently announced the formation of a new robotics team, inviting research engineers to help develop physical devices that incorporate OpenAI’s multimodal technologies. This step revives OpenAI’s interest in robotics, a field it deprioritized in 2018 to focus on software. A significant achievement from that period was a robotic hand that could independently learn to grasp objects, marking a strong foundation for the team’s renewed efforts, notes NIXSOLUTIONS.
Expanding AI’s Reach in Consumer Devices
OpenAI’s technology is already making its way into consumer devices. Apple, for instance, plans to incorporate ChatGPT into iPhones by the end of the year, expanding the capabilities available to its users. Similarly, Figure, a robotics company, utilizes OpenAI’s technology in its humanoid robot Figure 01, which can engage in natural conversations thanks to OpenAI’s built-in software. These implementations highlight the expanding influence of AI on enhancing human-device interaction, a trend we’ll keep you updated on.
The addition of Caitlin Kalinowski to OpenAI signifies a major step in the company’s mission to bring AI into the physical world. Her expertise in designing consumer devices could be pivotal in expanding AI’s role in daily life, making it more accessible and deeply integrated into familiar surroundings.