Google DeepMind has hired Aaron Saunders, the former chief technology officer of Boston Dynamics, as its vice president of hardware engineering. Saunders spent 22 years at the robotics firm, overseeing the development of four-legged and humanoid machines.
The appointment is seen as a key step in integrating Google's Gemini AI model into robots. DeepMind has already demonstrated Gemini's ability to give robots spatial understanding and reasoning for physical tasks, such as folding origami, preparing lunch, tying shoelaces, and slam-dunking a basketball.
DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has spoken of creating an AI operating system for robots, akin to Google's Android running on billions of devices. This could involve building the 'brain' for humanoid robots to perform tasks at or above human levels.
Earlier this year, DeepMind launched Gemini Robotics On-Device, enabling AI robots to operate without an internet connection. This marks a shift from reliance on remote servers, allowing robots to function anywhere on Earth or in space without data connectivity.
Carolina Parada, DeepMind's head of robotics, said the on-device system makes powerful robotics models more accessible and adaptable, and expressed excitement about future developments in bringing AI into the physical world.
