Google Gemini Assumes Command of Humanoid Robots in Automotive Manufacturing Facilities

Atlas is capable of dancing and performing acrobatics, but like other humanoids, it lacks the intelligence necessary to comprehend its surroundings, make intricate decisions, and handle unfamiliar objects with precision. However, this may start to shift with the introduction of an advanced AI model like Gemini, although it’s uncertain how robots will achieve the same adaptability and finesse as human manual dexterity.

“The true value moving forward is for our robots to be aware of their context and to manipulate any object using their hands,” stated Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics, in an interview with WIRED prior to today’s announcement. “We believe that manufacturing settings, such as those in Hyundai factories, are ideal for deploying this technology immediately.”

For decades, Boston Dynamics has been at the forefront of developing sophisticated robots, including humanoids and quadrupeds tested by the military for transporting supplies across challenging terrains. The company was acquired by Google in 2013 and then purchased by SoftBank in 2017. In 2021, Hyundai took a controlling stake in the company.

Recent advancements in motors, batteries, sensors, and other technologies have facilitated competition in the robotics field among startups and established companies alike. Over a dozen firms in the US, such as Agility Robotics, Figure AI, Apptronik, 1X, and Tesla, are developing humanoid systems. Meanwhile, the competition abroad is even more intense, with around 200 Chinese firms reportedly working on humanoid robotics, as indicated by CMRA, a Chinese industry association.

Numerous AI companies are now focusing on robotics, believing that AI models require a richer understanding of the physical world to achieve human-like intelligence. OpenAI is reportedly developing humanoids, and Tesla has unveiled a humanoid named Optimus. Several startups are also innovating models intended to enable robots to quickly learn a variety of physical tasks, with aspirations to deploy humanlike robots as household aids, despite their current constraints.