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DeepMind’s latest robotics framework debuts three new models, expanding vision-language-action capabilities from isolated tabletop manipulation to full-body humanoid control, high-DoF tactile dexterity, and multi-agent coordination.
Eschewing the flashy, press-release-heavy reveals common in the robotics industry, Apptronik has silently updated its website to showcase Apollo 2, its next-generation modular humanoid platform built for scale and commercial deployment.
Apptronik has appointed former Waymo, Boston Dynamics, and Amazon leaders to its executive bench, signaling a strategic pivot toward mass-market commercialization and healthcare.
Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas details the company’s "pragmatic" roadmap for humanoid deployment, including wheeled variants and a three-phase plan for mass-market adoption.
In a new behind-the-scenes look at the DeepMind robotics lab, leadership showcases "thinking" robots and long-horizon planning, but admits that data efficiency remains a critical hurdle before the technology is ready for the real world.
The Austin-based robotics firm is in advanced talks for a new funding round led by B Capital, just months after its $350M Series A, as it races to scale Apollo against heavily-funded rivals.
Google DeepMind has launched Gemini Robotics On-Device, an efficient vision-language-action model designed to run locally on robotic hardware. This development aims to reduce latency, improve robustness in varied environments, and enable advanced dexterous manipulation for a new generation of autonomous robots capable of fast task adaptation.
Apptronik has been named to CNBC's 2025 Disruptor 50 list at #33, becoming the first humanoid robotics company to achieve this recognition. The selection highlights Apptronik's scalability, AI integration through its Apollo robot, a recent $350M Series A funding, and key partnerships, signaling the growing prominence of humanoid robots.
Soft Robotics Podcast host Marwa ElDiwiny and engineer Scott Walter dissect the rotary-vs-linear actuator debate shaping today’s humanoid robots—explaining why most builders favor compact rotary joints while others bet on planetary-roller-screw cylinders.
