Google wants Intrinsic to be Android for robots moves into physical AI
Google wants Intrinsic to be Android for robots moves into physical AI
Publish Date: 2026-02-28 08:00:00
Source Domain: www.cnbc.com
- Google’s robotics division, Intrinsic, transitions from Alphabet’s “Moonshot” factory X to its main operations, aiming to tackle the robotics market similar to how Android has dominated the smartphone market.
- Intrinsic, like Android, aims to create an operating system for industrial robots that partners with companies like FANUC, Universal Robots, and KUKA, positioning Google to compete with Amazon and Tesla in the projected $370 billion robotics market by 2040.
- Operating under Google gives Intrinsic access to AI models, cloud tools, and infrastructure, while maintaining its distinct identity and leadership with CEO Wendy Tan White.
- Google has a complex history in robotics, having sold off previous acquisitions like Boston Dynamics and Schaft, but recent advances in AI and the launch of AI models like Gemini Robotics have renewed its focus in the field.
- Intrinsic’s strategy includes close collaboration with DeepMind and Google’s infrastructure to develop applications that run on robots, particularly in manufacturing, where there is significant demand.
- The company emphasizes accessibility, offering tools like Flowstate that allow developers to create robotic applications with minimal coding, similar to Android’s open-source model.
- Intrinsic has formed partnerships, including one with Foxconn to deploy AI robots in electronics assembly, highlighting its aim to meet the surging demand in the manufacturing sector.
