OpenAI Expands Model Use for Physical Engineering Tasks

OpenAI shared advances in how its models help engineers design, simulate, and build physical products across mechanical and electrical engineering.

To test its performance in multimodal and computer use workflows, OpenAI used GPT-6 and Astra to build a device without direct human edits. Two team members completed the design in under a week as a side project, while a contract manufacturer built a small batch of prototypes in under a month.

Model usage across OpenAI's hardware and infrastructure teams has grown 23-fold since February, measured in tokens, as teams use Codex and ChatGPT for CAD models, manufacturing drawings, and simulations.

On benchmark testing, a newer internal model achieved an average score of 0.875 on BenchCAD 2.0, compared with 0.594 for GPT-6 Astra at its highest reasoning setting.

OpenAI is also collaborating with external industry partners. The company is expanding its work with Chip Ganassi Racing to turn 3D scans into editable CAD models and 2D manufacturing drawings, and announced a new research collaboration with Mazda involving aerodynamics and crash-safety evaluation.