OpenAI is hiring engineers to build and manufacture robots, signaling entry into a market Tesla is betting heavily on—a move that could weigh on Tesla stock given how much the market is already pricing in its robotics success.

What happened: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted on X that the company is recruiting engineers to help develop and manufacture robots, without disclosing specifics about the intended use cases or timeline.

Why it matters: Tesla shares are already trading at nearly 13 times next year's projected revenue of $118 billion（約19兆円） and 160 times 2027's expected earnings per share of around $2.60—levels suggesting the stock is priced for dominance across multiple markets, including the humanoid robotics space where Tesla plans to sell Optimus by the end of next year. With OpenAI already backing robotics startup 1X Technologies and having collaborated with Figure AI, the entry of an AI powerhouse with ChatGPT's near-80% market share in chatbots into robotics introduces genuine competitive uncertainty that the market may not yet have fully priced in.

What to watch: No clear timeline is stated for when OpenAI will have physical robots ready to sell, nor has the company specified which robotics segments it will target (industrial assembly, agriculture, warehouse work, or humanoid assistants like Tesla's Optimus). The gap between now and 2027, when Tesla's robot revenue could potentially begin, leaves room for multiple competitors to establish themselves.