Google DeepMind has introduced Gemini Robotics 2, extending its AI control from humanoid robots’ upper bodies to whole-body movement from “feet to fingertips”. The change could help robots undertake more complex practical tasks requiring walking, balance and object handling, though DeepMind says movement speed still needs improvement.

Demonstrations show Apptronik’s Apollo 2 bending to pick up a watering can and retrieving selected items from shelves. The update also supports more dexterous five-fingered hands, while Gemini Robotics ER 2 is intended to handle longer multi-step work, coordinate different robot types and stop robots safely when people get too close; an improved on-device model can adapt faster to substantially different robot designs.