Agile Robots to integrate Google’s Gemini into industrial bots

Munich, Germany-based Agile Robots announced on Tuesday that it has entered into a strategic research partnership with Google DeepMind. Under the agreement, Agile Robots will implement Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics foundation models into its robots. In turn, data collected by the robots will be used to improve the underlying Gemini AI models. The companies plan to test, fine-tune, and deploy robots using these models in industrial use cases across several sectors, including electronics manufacturing, automotive, data centers, and logistics. A spokesperson for the company stated that the deal is long term, though further details regarding duration or pricing were not disclosed.

Founded in 2018, Agile Robots has raised more than $270 million in venture capital funding from investors including the SoftBank Vision Fund, Xiaomi, and Midas Group. The company has already installed over 20,000 robotics solutions worldwide. Zhaopeng Chen, the co-founder and CEO of Agile Robots, stated that “Agile Robots has already installed over 20,000 robotics solutions worldwide, proving intelligent automation at scale.” Chen also noted that the significant opportunity ahead lies in autonomous, intelligent production systems that can transform entire industries, and that integrating Gemini Robotics models positions the company to address this market.

This agreement is part of a broader rise in robotics partnerships this year, driven by the development of physical AI—defined as AI applied to physical robotics and production systems. Industry figures, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, have characterized physical AI as the next frontier for the AI market. Because robots are highly complex on both the hardware and software sides, these collaborations allow companies with specific strengths to partner with those holding complementary expertise. Consequently, these partnerships will likely not only continue, but also accelerate.

Other recent collaborations highlight this trend. Boston Dynamics recently announced a partnership with Google DeepMind to use its AI foundation models to help develop its upcoming humanoid robot, Atlas. Notably, Google previously owned Boston Dynamics from 2013 to 2017. Additionally, in early March, German robotics startup Neura Robotics announced a partnership with Qualcomm. This deal involves Neura Robotics using Qualcomm’s recently announced IQ10 processor series, designed for mobile robots and humanoids, as a reference design for future robots.

Why it matters

The deal highlights the physical AI trend—where AI is applied to physical robotics and production systems—as hardware manufacturers increasingly integrate foundation models to solve complex automation challenges, signaling a shift toward more autonomous industrial production.