Google Debuts AI Models for Powering Robots
Google’s new Gemini Robotics models are bringing AI into the real world.
Google is taking artificial intelligence to the next level by bringing its DeepMind-powered models into the physical world. The two new AI models: Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER – built on Gemini 2.0 – its latest and most advanced AI system, have been specially designed to power robots.
Unlike traditional AI that just spits out text or generates images, Gemini Robotics understands natural language and turns those instructions into physical movements.
One of the challenges in robotics has always been teaching robots new tasks. In the past, that meant manually programming every single movement, but Gemini Robotics is designed to be more flexible and adaptable. Even if it wasn’t trained on a specific task, it can figure things out.
To put this to the test, Google ran its model through an AI generalization benchmark, and Gemini Robotics more than doubled the performance of previous vision-language-action models.
Louis Eriakha
The second model, Gemini Robotics-ER, takes things a step further by focusing on spatial reasoning. What makes this model even more powerful is its ability to generate code. After planning how to complete a task, it converts that plan into a configuration script that programs the robot accordingly. If something is too complex for the AI to handle on its own, developers can step in and show it how to do it with just a few demonstrations.
If you’ve been following Google’s journey, you know this isn’t its first rodeo in robotics. Over a decade ago, the company went on a robotics acquisition spree, buying at least eight robotics companies. However, after some restructuring and budget cuts, the Everyday Robots project was shut down in 2023. Now, with the rise of generative AI, Google is making a big comeback in robotics.
The company is partnering with Apptronik, a Texas-based robotics startup to develop humanoid robots powered by Gemini 2.0. Google is also teaming up with companies like Boston Dynamics, Agile Robots, and Agility Robots to further test Gemini Robotics-ER.
Of course, Google isn’t the only tech giant pushing AI-powered robotics. OpenAI has been investing in Physical Intelligence, a startup focused on bringing general-purpose AI into the physical world. Tesla is also deep in the game with its Optimus humanoid robot project. Meta and other companies are also exploring AI-driven robotics, making this an industry to watch closely.
