OpenMind, a Silicon Valley-based company, is developing a foundational software layer named OM1, designed to function as an operating system for humanoid robots. The company aims to become the “Android” of robotics by providing open and hardware-agnostic software.
Founded in 2024 by Stanford professor Jan Liphardt, OpenMind recognizes that while robots have long performed repetitive tasks, the increasing development of humanoids for human-to-machine interactions, particularly in domestic settings, necessitates a new operating system that can “think more like a human.” Liphardt noted, “All of a sudden, this world is opening where machines are able to interact with humans in ways I’ve certainly never before seen.” He emphasized the company’s perspective as a “collaboration between machines and humans.”
On Monday, OpenMind unveiled FABRIC, a new protocol enabling robots to verify identity and share context and information with other robots. Liphardt highlighted that unlike humans, machines can learn almost instantly, and this connectivity will facilitate rapid training and information absorption. He provided the example of robots sharing data on different languages, allowing them to interact with a broader range of people without direct human instruction for each language. “Humans take it for granted that they can interact with any other human on Earth,” Liphardt stated, suggesting that machines will similarly require robust infrastructure for trust, communication, and coordination.
OpenMind is preparing to ship its initial fleet of 10 OM1-powered robotic dogs by September. Liphardt stressed the importance of deploying the technology and iterating based on user feedback. “We full well expect all the humans that will be hosting these quadrupeds, they’ll come back with a long list of things they didn’t like or they want,” he explained, underscoring the company’s commitment to rapid iteration and improvement.
The company recently secured $20 million in a funding round led by Pantera Capital, with additional participation from Ribbit, Coinbase Ventures, Pebblebed, and various strategic and angel investors. OpenMind’s immediate focus is on getting its technology into homes to gather feedback. Liphardt concluded, “The most important thing for us is to get robots out there and to get feedback. Our goal as a company is to do as many of these tests as we can, so that we can very rapidly identify the most interesting opportunities where the capabilities of the robots today are optimally matched against what humans are looking for.”
