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Samsung’s Ballie Home Robot Just Got Smarter with Google’s Gemini AI
Samsung is bringing some serious brains to its home robot Ballie by teaming up with Google Cloud to integrate the Gemini AI model. This collaboration means Ballie will now be able to understand and respond using both audio and visual input — making it a much more helpful and intuitive companion around the house.
Smarter Interactions, Thanks to Gemini
By combining Samsung’s AI with Google’s Gemini, Ballie can now do things like analyze how you look and suggest outfit ideas using its built-in camera. So instead of just rolling around and playing music, it can actually see and understand what’s happening around it.
Personalized Health Tips at Home
Ballie will also use Gemini to provide wellness suggestions — things like what exercises you can do or how to improve your sleep routine. You’ll also be able to ask general knowledge questions, and the robot will pull from Gemini’s database to give you useful answers on the spot.
Samsung’s Vision for AI at Home
Yongjae Kim, Executive VP at Samsung’s Visual Display Business, shared that this partnership is about more than just features — it's about changing how AI fits into our daily lives. The goal is to create an assistant that moves with you, understands your needs, and becomes a truly interactive part of your home environment.
When Can You Get One?
Samsung has shown off Ballie at events like CES for a few years now, and earlier this year they announced it would officially launch in South Korea and the U.S. in the first half of 2025. So the wait may finally be over soon.
More to Come from Samsung and Google
This isn't the first time the two tech giants have teamed up — Gemini has already been integrated into Samsung’s Galaxy S24 phones. There are also reports that they’re working together on a mixed reality (XR) device, where Gemini could be a key part of the experience too.
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Nvidia Unveils Groot N1: A Breakthrough AI Model for Humanoid Robotics
What is Groot N1?
Nvidia has introduced Groot N1, a powerful AI model designed to make humanoid robots smarter and more capable. Announced at GTC 2025 in San Jose, Groot N1 is built to help robots think and act more like humans.
Inspired by Human Thinking
Groot N1 uses a unique dual-system architecture that mimics the way people think:
- Slow-thinking system: This helps robots understand their surroundings, process instructions, and plan their next move.
- Fast-thinking system: Once a plan is in place, this system quickly translates it into precise movements — perfect for tasks that involve handling objects or following multi-step instructions.
From Industrial Use to Everyday Robots
Groot N1 builds on Nvidia’s earlier Project Groot, which focused on industrial robots. Now, Groot N1 expands its capabilities to support humanoid robots of different shapes and sizes, bringing this technology closer to real-world applications.
Open Source for Developers
To help developers bring Groot N1 to life, Nvidia is making the model available in open source. They’re also providing tools like simulation frameworks and data blueprints to simplify the training process.
A Step Toward Smarter Robots
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described this innovation as a major step forward, saying, "The age of generalist robotics is here."
With rising interest in humanoid robots from companies like X1 and Figure, Nvidia’s Groot N1 could be a game-changer. While creating reliable, human-like robots remains a challenge, Groot N1 suggests that smarter, more capable robots may be closer than we think.
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Google DeepMind Introduces Gemini Robotics: AI That Makes Robots Smarter
Google DeepMind has announced Gemini Robotics, an advanced AI model that enhances robot functions in real-world settings. This versatile model makes robots capable of manipulating objects, navigating spaces, and interacting with voice commands with remarkable accuracy.
Demonstrations in Action
DeepMind demonstrated Gemini Robotics in action through demonstration videos. The robots were able to accomplish tasks such as:
- Folding paper
- Packing glasses into a box
These instances demonstrate the model's increased accuracy and flexibility.
Adaptable and Versatile AI
What is unique to Gemini Robotics is its capacity to generalize behavior on different robot hardware. With this versatility, robots can perform well across different settings — even environments not represented in the model's training data.
Tools for Researchers
To enable further innovation, DeepMind released:
- Gemini Robotics-ER — A light version for researchers to train bespoke robot models.
- Asimov — A standard meant to evaluate potential dangers with AI-based robots.
Conclusion
With Gemini Robotics, Google DeepMind is pushing robotics forward, making smarter, more versatile machines for everyday use.
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Japan’s Service Robot Market Expected to Triple by 2030 Amid Workforce Crisis
Japan is quickly turning towards service robots to counter its acute labor shortage, with the market expected to almost triple to ¥400 billion (around $2.7 billion) by 2030, according to research firm Fuji Keizai.
Facing Labor Shortages
Japan has a major labor shortage, with the Recruit Works Institute predicting an 11 million-employee deficit by 2040. Compounding the issue, close to 40% of Japan's population will be aged 65 or above by 2065, according to an estimate by a government-funded institute.
Businesses are turning to robotics to ensure efficiency and continuity of service.
Robots in Action
One prominent example is Skylark, Japan's biggest table-service restaurant chain, that has installed approximately 3,000 cat-eared robots to help deliver food. The robots move around the dining hall, delivering food quickly while minimizing the workload for human staff.
At one of Skylark’s Tokyo outlets, 71-year-old employee Yasuko Tagawa shared that half of her job now involves working alongside these robots. Tagawa even expressed her appreciation to one of the machines, saying, “Thanks for your hard work. I’ll be counting on you.”
The Future of Robotics in Japan
As the population of Japan continues to age, dependency on service robots will be on the rise across various sectors. From hospitality to healthcare, automation is turning out to be a vital solution to maintain productivity and cope with increasing demands.
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Nvidia and Apple Vision Pro Collaborate to Revolutionize Humanoid Robotics Learning
Robotics have been pivotal to Nvidia's meteoric rise in recent years. This technological powerhouse has consistently pushed boundaries, with significant strides in humanoid robotics, such as the unveiling of GR00T in March last year. GR00T was a landmark innovation, garnering partnerships with key players in the industry like 1X Technologies, Agility Robotics, Apptronik, Boston Dynamics, Figure AI, Fourier Intelligence, Sanctuary AI, and Unitree Robotics.
At CES this year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang showcased the next generation leap for GR00T in Blueprint. Imitation learning is one of the fundamental methods used to instruct robots in acquiring new capabilities, particularly important in humanoid robotics where actions appear to be anthropomorphic.
What is Imitation Learning?
Imagination learning is a simple yet potent concept. A human performs an action, and the robot imitates it. This method is particularly useful in the automation of industrial settings, like manufacturing and logistics, where early humanoid robots are being used.
Blueprint enhances this learning by including teleoperation, where robots can be trained remotely. Actions are digitized and replicated in a simulated environment, enabling rapid adaptation and skill acquisition.
The Role of Apple Vision Pro
What really makes GR00T Blueprint stand out is its integration with Apple's Vision Pro, a next-generation mixed-reality headset. Users can perform tasks in real-time, captured as digital twins through Vision Pro. These virtual replicas become training modules for robots, enabling precise and repetitive execution in simulation before deployment.
It helps bridge the gap between human intent and robot execution, creating a scalable and efficient way of training humanoids in real-world applications. It helps robots smoothly find their places within human environments on factory floors, warehouse logistics, and much more.
Why It Matters
Nvidia's integration of Vision Pro is a major milestone in robotics and mixed reality. With advanced chipmaking capabilities combined with innovative instructional tools, Nvidia is shaping a future where robots not only emulate human actions but do so with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency.
Conclusion
This combination of Nvidia's GR00T Blueprint and Apple Vision Pro shows how technology giants can cooperate across firms to redefine industries. With developments like these, humanoid robots are increasingly necessary for modern workflows and promise a more efficient automated future.
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Samsung and Rainbow Robotics Join Forces to Shape the Future of Automation
Samsung Electronics is making bold moves in the world of robotics! The tech giant has just become the largest shareholder in Rainbow Robotics, a South Korean robotics company, by increasing its stake from 14.7% to 35%. This strategic investment of KRW 267 billion (about $181 million) is all about turbocharging innovation in humanoid robots and expanding Samsung’s presence in the robotics industry.
A Visionary Step for Samsung
The robotics journey for Samsung started in 2023 with an initial 14.7% stake in Rainbow Robotics, costing KRW 86.8 billion or around $59 million. With this increase in investment, the company is all set to welcome Rainbow Robotics as a subsidiary. The acquisition, which is scheduled to be finalized by February 2025, marks the bigger strategy of Samsung to lead in cutting-edge fields like AI, 5G, and automotive tech.
To take this vision forward, Samsung is establishing a Future Robotics Office that will directly report to its CEO. This new division is aimed at pushing innovation and deepening the partnership with Rainbow Robotics.
Introducing Rainbow Robotics
Found by some researchers from KAIST, 2011-established Rainbow Robotics specialized in advanced solutions for robotics, including dual-arm mobile manipulators and autonomous robots, which they have already developed and are testing in manufacturing and logistics. At the moment, they have dedicated employees around 86 who will be helping Samsung with transformations.
Dr. Jun-ho Oh, a core member of Rainbow Robotics and former major shareholder, will continue to be a key figure. As an honorary professor at KAIST, he will head Samsung's Future Robotics Office and serve as an adviser. His knowledge will ensure that the company's legacy of innovation continues under Samsung's guidance.
A Global Game Changer
This partnership is a game-changer for Rainbow Robotics, giving them access to Samsung's global reach and resources. It also places Samsung in the ring with other tech heavyweights like Microsoft, OpenAI, Tesla, and Nvidia—all of whom are racing to perfect humanoid robots.
The recent demo of Tesla's Optimus robot, followed by Nvidia's plan to unveil Jetson Thor in 2024-computers on a small circuit board specifically meant for humanoid robots-will all add up in reinforcing the role of robotics in shaping the future of technology, according to Samsung.
What's Next?
This new investment by Samsung proves that the company is committed to bringing robotics into everyday life. With the newly established Future Robotics Office and the partnership with Rainbow Robotics, Samsung is all set to lead the charge in redefining what's possible with automation.
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Nvidia's 2025 Leap: Empowering Robotics with Next-Gen AI Tech
Nvidia is sending shockwaves throughout the robotics world with a very bold step forward into 2025. Chipmaking giant Nvidia has prepared the launching of Jetson Thor, the next-generation computing platform designed to power the future of humanoid robots. This indicates Nvidia's strategic commitment to developing robotics technology and supporting the burgeoning community of robot developers around the world, as reported by the Financial Times.
A Strategic Vision
Instead of competing with the likes of Tesla and others, Nvidia is staking its place as the nervous system of robotics. Deepu Talla, vice president for robotics at Nvidia, described that ambition as making possible "hundreds of thousands" of robotics developers by providing sturdy tools for designing advanced machines, which Jetson Thor represents—providing the computational muscles needed to move innovation forward.
Why Now?
Two significant technological advancements make 2025 the ideal year for Nvidia to concentrate on robotics:
- Generative AI Explosion: The explosion of generative AI models offers unprecedented opportunities for training robots to perform complex tasks.
- Simulated Training Environments: Virtual simulations are now sophisticated enough to allow developers to train robots efficiently, reducing reliance on real-world experiments.
These developments perfectly fall in line with Nvidia's AI and hardware expertise, allowing it to provide cutting-edge solutions to the robotics community.
Navigating Industry Challenges
Nvidia is shifting towards robotics, not merely to innovate but also as a strategic response to the dynamics of the market. Major clients, according to Financial Times, like Amazon and Google are developing their AI chips, so they would not be too dependent on the hardware of Nvidia. With Jetson Thor in robotics, Nvidia opens up new revenue streams and secures its position in the evolving technology landscape.
Conclusion
With Jetson Thor, Nvidia is going to empower the robotics industry, enabling developers to build more intelligent and more capable humanoid robots. This AI technology is something of a big leap forward in the future not only for Nvidia but also in the future of robotics.
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