For decades, Boston Dynamics has pioneered the development of advanced robots, including humanoids and four-legged systems that have been tested by the military as a way to transport supplies over rough terrain. The company was sold to Google in 2013 and bought by SoftBank in 2017. In 2021, Hyundai acquired a controlling stake.
In recent years, developments in motors, batteries, sensors and other components have made it easier for startups and other companies to compete in the robotics field. More than a dozen companies in the US, including Agility Robotics, Figure AI, Apptronik, 1X and Tesla, are working on humanoid systems. Abroad, competition is even fiercer, as about 200 Chinese companies are developing humanoid systems, according to CMRA, a Chinese industry association.
Many AI companies are turning their attention to robotics, believing that AI models require a deeper understanding of the physical world to achieve human-like intelligence. OpenAI is said to be developing humanoids. Tesla showed a humanoid named Optimus. Several startups are also working on models designed to help robots quickly master various physical tasks. Some hope to use humanoid robots as domestic helpers, despite their current limitations.
Google DeepMind hired the former CTO of Boston Dynamics in November. Rather than building his own robots, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said he envisions Gemini being used by many different robot manufacturers, similar to how Android runs on a wide range of smartphones.
While no one knows the best way to give machines the kind of physical intelligence that humans take for granted, adding artificial intelligence to industrial systems could greatly increase their usefulness.
Likewise, the data collected by Boston Dynamics' machines will help improve Gemini's ability to operate in the physical world, Playter said.
Carolina Parada, senior director of robotics at Google DeepMind, notes that Gemini is designed to be multimodal, making it well-suited for understanding and learning about the physical world. “Google DeepMind's robotics focus is on building advanced AI that can power general-purpose robots,” Parada said in an interview with WIRED. “The automotive sector is a great place to start, but it is certainly our intention to continue to expand into more and more applications.”
As AI takes control of physical systems, it could also bring new risks. Parada says that, in addition to the security controls already built into Boston Dynamics' systems, Gemini will perform artificial reasoning to prevent potentially dangerous behavior.
Playter says that being able to ensure human safety will be crucial if humanoid robots take off. “Even the little ones can be dangerous,” he admits.
