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How Google built its Gemini robotics models

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Re: How Google built its Gemini robotics models

#81

Post by abidhusain »

The advancements in AI and robotics are incredibly exciting! With complex systems like Gemini, companies will need to rely on specialized teams to bring these innovations to life.

Outsourcing specific roles such as AI research or robotics engineers can help companies bring top-tier talent into the fold without the burden of full-time recruitment. It's fascinating to see how outsourcing can complement R&D in cutting-edge industries like robotics.

Curious to see how this shifts the industry, especially in terms of scalability and speed to market

Re: How Google built its Gemini robotics models

#82

Post by knodi123 »

quotemstr wrote: post #62
otherayden wrote: post #38

It's terrifying to think that robots like this will probably be used in the defense industry at some point. If the robot understands something as general as "put the erasers away", imagine "kill all enemies".

> It's terrifying to think that robots like this will probably be used in the defense industry at some point So what? Is keeping us safe a bad thing somehow? I can't get these people who reflexively think anything weapon-shaped is evil. Violence is good sometimes.

The scary thing is that the robots will only continue to improve, and large numbers of them can be controlled by a small number (1?) of people, with other robots to handle logistics and support. So scenarios like "rogue leader ignores will of the people and orders his troops to ethnically cleanse a city" would go from being a mistake that causes the immediate end of a political career, to something that takes 15 minutes for 100% success.

Re: How Google built its Gemini robotics models

#83

Post by zeroq »

harmmonica wrote: post #33
zeroq wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my bubble it's general consensus that Google - as we knew it - is done. Sergiej and Larry phased out and what is left is more of less a headless chicken, too big too fall, but without any clear direction and goal.

Is this actually true about Larry and Sergei? A substantial amount of their net worths is still tied up in Google stock. I realize not all centibillionaires are cut from the same cloth, but still find it hard to believe they wouldn't be majorly involved since the downside of a major stock drop would impact them disproportionately. That said they could be the types of billionaires who actually think they have enough e…

> they can't seem to turn the work of their talented engineers into great new products

I think about this a lot. The most famous example in tech world is obviously Jobs and Apple. And it's a great example because it's a borderline scientific experiment where you can directly compare three different phases.

But I think about it in a broader scope - like how many companies can last generations and remain relevant? There are plenty examples outside of tech, like banks but that's basically the same product and it's not that easy to launch a direct competetior to Bank of America or BMW, wheras software constantly evolves, people iterate on exisisting ideas I can I think of, from top of my hand, handful of examples of software that was really impactful but is not anymore.

Re: How Google built its Gemini robotics models

#84

Post by riku_iki »

harmmonica wrote: post #33
zeroq wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my bubble it's general consensus that Google - as we knew it - is done. Sergiej and Larry phased out and what is left is more of less a headless chicken, too big too fall, but without any clear direction and goal.

Is this actually true about Larry and Sergei? A substantial amount of their net worths is still tied up in Google stock. I realize not all centibillionaires are cut from the same cloth, but still find it hard to believe they wouldn't be majorly involved since the downside of a major stock drop would impact them disproportionately. That said they could be the types of billionaires who actually think they have enough e…

Realistically person need just some XXXM to cover 99% of luxury lifestyle, and even stock drop 20x they will still have those money.

Also, Larry has some sickness, maybe his thoughts currently not about money at all.

Re: How Google built its Gemini robotics models

#85

Post by bglazer »

abidhusain wrote: post #81

The advancements in AI and robotics are incredibly exciting! With complex systems like Gemini, companies will need to rely on specialized teams to bring these innovations to life. Outsourcing specific roles such as AI research or robotics engineers can help companies bring top-tier talent into the fold without the burden of full-time recruitment. It's fascinating to see how outsourcing can complement R&D in cutting-e…

Are you posting chatgpt output as comments?

Re: How Google built its Gemini robotics models

#86

Post by _ea1k »

modeless wrote: post #55
_ea1k wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good point. It took a while to get going, but the growth rate is starting to look really incredible now.

The growth rate is still very far from incredible. And they've made terrible decisions on platforms, giving up developing their own in favor of the i-Pace which is discontinued, then hitching themselves to a Chinese EV manufacturer subject to 100% tariffs (which, fun fact, were imposed by Biden).

Growth was well over 100% last year, with expansions in every market (Phoenix, San Francisco, and LA). In 2025, they've added Austin, Silicon Valley, and will soon be adding Atlanta and Miami as well. They've also partnered with Hyundai on vehicle production, though I do expect that they will eventually become supply constrained.

They went from offering 12,000 rides in August 2023 to now offering 200,000 rides per week.

This growth only doesn't look incredible because of how small the starting point was, but it will be hard to ignore by this time next year.

Re: How Google built its Gemini robotics models

#87

Post by _ea1k »

_ea1k wrote: post #9
WXLCKNO wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had never heard of Unitree (Chinese robotics company) before today. A lot of their videos look like CGI but apparently the product is real. What stuck with me the most browsing their website on the G1 model was seeing "Price from $16k" Now I'm not sure if these are actually purchasable or what the value would be, but it's my first time seeing an actual normal-ish price attached to a humanoid robot that seems to be…

TBH, I still wonder if some of their videos are CGI. They offer real versions for sale, but they seem to be significantly more limited than the videos imply. Have they actually demonstrated the more dramatic stuff at any in-person demos?

It is funny that this is getting downvoted. AFAICT, the answer to my question is actually "no". :)

Re: How Google built its Gemini robotics models

#88

Post by whatnow37373 »

imtringued wrote: post #67
whatnow37373 wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People are remarkably cheap and versatile especially if you happen to don’t give a fuck about them. I find it hard to imagine a high-tech incredibly unreliable complex robot to be of any value in the battlefield. Even my phone is remarkably unreliable, have to keep it charged, bugs, etc. I noticed this during COVID and its QR-scanning phase at restaurants. A simple pipe bomb or two will make short work of any incomin…

A robot dog hiding in bushes for reconnaissance is significantly more energy efficient than letting drones loiter in the air. Killing people is already a solved problem. Use mortars, call air strikes, send drones, let a heli shoot 30mm rounds, etc.

Why you need a robot dog when some cheap RC car with a $2 camera will do. Anything you can think of that a robot dog can do some cheap bullshit will do better. I am totally not seeing the value of these things.

Re: How Google built its Gemini robotics models

#89

Post by AndrewKemendo »

WXLCKNO wrote: post #7
dachworker wrote: post #2

The "how" is completely missing, but if they can get this to work semi reliably it will be ChatGPT x100 in terms of impact.

I had never heard of Unitree (Chinese robotics company) before today. A lot of their videos look like CGI but apparently the product is real. What stuck with me the most browsing their website on the G1 model was seeing "Price from $16k" Now I'm not sure if these are actually purchasable or what the value would be, but it's my first time seeing an actual normal-ish price attached to a humanoid robot that seems to be…

I own three of their systems, one since 2019

They are far and away the leader in quality affordable robots that are able to be used in real life at a reasonable price point

You can hack on em and add a lot of capability

I’ve worked with a lot of robots and they are leaps ahead of everyone, and have a good supply chain that can actually deliver

All of their control policies are developed with RL too so they are improving all the time

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