Alphabet (GOOGL, Financial), Google's parent company, has introduced two new AI models focused on robotics, aiming to help developers train robots to handle unfamiliar scenarios—a longstanding challenge in the field. Google's AI lab, DeepMind, announced the launch of Gemini Robotics, a new branch of its flagship AI model designed to create more agile and interactive robots. Another model, Gemini Robotics-ER, focuses on spatial understanding, assisting robot manufacturers in building new programs utilizing Gemini's reasoning capabilities.
DeepMind engineer Kanishka Rao highlighted that applying Gemini to robotics is a step toward developing "general-purpose robots" capable of performing various tasks. The ambition to create robots that can execute tasks like humans is gaining renewed interest and investment in Silicon Valley. Companies such as Meta Platforms (META), Tesla (TSLA), and OpenAI are increasing their investments in robotics, while startups are securing funding at high valuations.
In a pre-recorded demonstration, Google's researchers showcased robots using their technology to respond to simple commands. One robot, standing in front of a pile of letter tiles, successfully spelled out "Ace" when instructed. Another robot, in a miniature toy basketball court setup, pushed a small plastic ball into a hoop when asked to dunk. Rao expressed excitement over the robots' achievements, emphasizing that these robots had never encountered basketball-related tasks before. They utilized Gemini's general concepts to understand the basketball hoop and the meaning of "dunk," successfully completing the task in the real world.
Google's history in robotics has been somewhat tumultuous. Over a decade ago, the company acquired several robotics firms to develop consumer-oriented robots with machine learning. In 2021, Alphabet established the Everyday Robots division to research robots performing routine tasks like sorting trash. However, the division was closed as part of Alphabet's 2023 budget cuts. Despite this, Alphabet never fully exited the robotics business and is now reviving its efforts under the banner of generative AI.
Google emphasized that this work is still in the "early exploration" phase. The company plans to collaborate with industry players to explore Gemini's robotics capabilities, including partnering with Apptronik to develop humanoid robots. Other partners testing the Gemini Robotics-ER model include Agile Robots and Boston Dynamics. Alphabet acquired Boston Dynamics in 2013 and later sold it to SoftBank Group.
On Wednesday, U.S. robotics stocks saw gains, with Palladyne AI (PDYN) rising 12%, Serve Robotics (SERV) up 8%, and Nauticus Robotics (KITT) increasing by 3%. Morgan Stanley noted the significant potential of humanoid robots in repetitive, dangerous, or monotonous work scenarios. The firm estimates that approximately 75% of U.S. occupations and 40% of the workforce have some degree of "humanoid robot substitutability," representing a potential market size of $3 trillion, requiring 63 million humanoid robots in the U.S. alone.
