Apptronik, Google DeepMind robotics partner to accelerate advancement of AI-powered humanoids

The AI-powered humanoid robotics company Apptronik announced it has entered a strategic partnership agreement with the Google DeepMind robotics team.

The companies said that the partnership will couple artificial intelligence with hardware and embodied intelligence, advancing humanoid robots that can be more helpful to people in dynamic environments.

Apptronik Apollo humanoid, Google DeepMind Gemini AI model at center of partnership

Apptronik was founded in 2016 out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin. Since its founding, the company has developed nearly a decade of expertise in human-centered design and hardware engineered for safety and reliability.

After building and testing 15 different types of robots, including NASA’s Valkyrie Robot, Apptronik developed the current iteration of its Apollo humanoid. Standing 5 feet 8 inches and weighing 160 pounds, Apollo is designed to perform physically demanding tasks and operate safely in industrial spaces alongside humans. Its approachable design balances complexity and functionality, which Apptronik said has earned praise from customers and partners alike.

“We’re building a future where humanoid robots address urgent global challenges,” said Jeff Cardenas, CEO and co-founder of Apptronik. “By combining Apptronik’s cutting-edge robotics platform with the Google DeepMind robotics team’s unparalleled AI expertise, we’re creating intelligent, versatile and safe robots that will transform industries and improve lives. United by a shared commitment to excellence, our two companies are poised to redefine the future of humanoid robotics.”

Google DeepMind’s robotics team brings together world-class expertise from machine learning, engineering, and physics simulation, around the hardest challenges facing the development of AI-powered robots. From advancements in foundation models to utilizing state-of-the-art AI models like Gemini for robotics, Google DeepMind’s robotics team is developing advanced AI systems capable of reasoning and taking action in the real world.

In just under a year since unveiling Apollo, the company has partnered with organizations including GXO and Mercedes-Benz, with more collaborations set to be announced next year.