Google's artificial intelligence division, DeepMind, is making a significant strategic push into the world of advanced robotics following a major executive hire from Boston Dynamics.
From Boston Dynamics to Google DeepMind
Aaron Saunders, the former Chief Technology Officer at the renowned robotics company Boston Dynamics, has joined Google DeepMind as its new Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Saunders brings a wealth of experience, having spent 22 years at Boston Dynamics where he was instrumental in overseeing the creation of their iconic four-legged and humanoid machines.
Industry analysts view this recruitment as a core component of Google's plan to deeply integrate its powerful Gemini AI model into physical robotic systems. The tech giant has already showcased early demonstrations of how Gemini can provide robots with enhanced spatial understanding and reasoning capabilities, enabling them to perform complex tasks in real-world environments.
The Gemini Robotics Vision
In various demonstrations, Gemini-powered robots have successfully completed a range of activities that require dexterity and problem-solving. These have included folding origami, preparing a simple packed lunch, tying shoelaces, and even figuring out the mechanics of how to slam dunk a basketball.
Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, has previously articulated a grand ambition to develop a universal AI operating system for robots. This system would function across various machines, mirroring the way Google's Android operating system currently powers more than 3 billion devices worldwide.
This strategy suggests that Google may focus on constructing the sophisticated 'brain' for humanoid robots, with the goal of enabling them to perform tasks at a level that matches or even surpasses human ability.
Operating Anywhere on Earth, or in Space
A pivotal development in this endeavour came earlier this year when Google DeepMind launched a new version of its system, Gemini Robotics On-Device. This innovation allows AI robots to function without a constant internet connection.
This represents a major shift for AI robotics, which traditionally depends on remote servers to handle the immense computational load required for operation. By utilising an on-device system, humanoid robots gain the ability to work effectively in any location on the planet – or even in the challenging environment of space – completely independent of data connectivity.
At the time of the launch, Carolina Parada, DeepMind’s head of robotics, stated, "Gemini Robotics On-Device marks a step forward in making powerful robotics models more accessible and adaptable. We’re excited to see what the robotics community will build with these new tools as we continue to explore the future of bringing AI into the physical world."
