For several decades, Boston Dynamics has pioneered the development of advanced robots, including humanoid and four-legged systems tested by the military as a way to carry supplies across rough terrain. The company was sold to Google in 2013 and purchased by SoftBank in 2017. In 2021, Hyundai acquired a controlling stake.
In recent years, advances 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 are working on humanoid systems, including Agility Robotics, Figure AI, Aptronic, 1X and Tesla. Competition abroad is even stiffer, with about 200 Chinese companies developing humanoid systems, according to Chinese industry association CMRA.
Many AI companies are focusing their attention on robotics, believing that AI models need a deep understanding of the physical world to achieve human intelligence. OpenAI is said to be developing humanoids. Tesla has shown a humanoid named Optimus. Many startups are also working on models that will help robots master various physical tasks faster. Some hope to deploy human-like robots as home assistants, despite their current limitations.
Google DeepMind hired the former CTO of Boston Dynamics in November. Rather than building its own robots, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said he envisions Gemini being used by many different robot makers, just as Android runs on a wide range of smartphones.
Although no one knows the best way to give machines the kind of physical intelligence that humans accept, adding artificial intelligence to industrial systems could greatly expand their usefulness.
Similarly, according to Plater, data collected by Boston Dynamics’ machines will help improve Gemini’s ability to work in the physical world.
Carolina Parada, senior director of robotics at Google DeepMind, says Gemini was designed to be multimodal, making it suitable for sensing and learning about the physical world. “Google DeepMind’s robotics focus is building advanced AI that can power general-purpose robots,” Parada said in an interview with WIRED. “Automotive is a great place to start, but we certainly intend to continue expanding to more and more applications.”
AI’s control over physical systems may also introduce new risks. Parada says that in addition to the safety controls already built into Boston Dynamics systems, Gemini will perform an artificial type of logic to detect and prevent potentially dangerous behavior.
Plater says it will be important to be able to guarantee human safety if humanoid robots are going to fly. “Even small children can be dangerous,” he admits.
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