The race to build humanoid robots is accelerating, and while most consumers aren't paying attention yet, they soon will be. AI-powered robotics will reshape labor markets, home assistance and personal productivity in ways that seem like science fiction today. The combination of increasingly powerful AI models, advanced dexterity, and multi-modal learning is bringing robots out of the factory and into everyday life. Some of the world’s most talented engineers are working on this problem, and the breakthroughs are coming fast.
Google DeepMind’s latest project, , is a step toward that future. Built on the Gemini 2.0 platform, these AI models integrate vision, language, and action, allowing robots to perform complex physical tasks without extensive pre-programming. Demonstrations show robots folding paper, unscrewing bottle caps, and packing objects with impressive precision. The Gemini Robotics-ER (Embodied Reasoning) model adds deeper spatial awareness and decision-making, enhancing a robot’s ability to navigate and manipulate real-world environments.
DeepMind isn’t alone in this pursuit. The company is collaborating with Apptronik and testing its models with trusted robotics firms like Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics. The goal is clear: make robots more capable, more useful, and ultimately, more available to businesses and consumers.
Fast forward a few years: your humanoid robot just picked up your dry cleaning, is prepping dinner, and tidying up the living room before your guests arrive. It’s not here yet, but the real question isn’t whether humanoid robots will go mainstream—it’s when.
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P.S. I'm excited to be doing a keynote (about AI and marketing) at the upcoming 2025 ANA AI and Technology for Marketers Conference (March 26-28 in Austin, Texas). The conference, presented by Meta, brings industry experts, innovators, and marketing leaders together to explore the future of marketing, examining themes around the intersection of AI, MarTech, and emerging platforms. .
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named he covers tech and business for , is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular . He's a , and the creator of the popular, free online course, . Follow or visit .
