DeepMind Robotics Pioneer Exits Google: Nvidia Backs Innovative New Startup
In an exciting development for the robotics and artificial intelligence sector, Pete Florence, a distinguished research scientist from DeepMind, has departed from Google to launch his own startup, Generalist AI. This innovative venture has already secured funding from Nvidia, as reported by TechCrunch.
Generalist AI: A New Era in Robotics
During a panel discussion at Nvidia’s GTC conference in San Jose, Florence was introduced as the co-founder and CEO of Generalist AI. The panel showcased various portfolio companies from Nvidia’s venture capital arm, NVentures.
NVentures: A Catalyst for Innovation
With the surge in AI advancements, NVentures has become a prominent venture capital player, investing in groundbreaking projects:
- Focus on AI-driven startups
- Support for innovative robotics solutions
- Investment in technology that reshapes industries
Florence expressed that Generalist AI is currently operating in stealth mode, emphasizing their mission: “to make general-purpose robots a reality.”
Pete Florence’s Transition from DeepMind
Florence’s transition from DeepMind occurred about a year ago, according to his LinkedIn profile. Notably, Kamyar Ghasemipour, a student researcher at DeepMind, has also joined Generalist AI as a founding technical staff member.
Alumni Network: A Growing Trend
Florence is not alone in his entrepreneurial journey; several former DeepMind employees have launched their own companies, including:
- Reflection AI – Focused on autonomous coding
- Latent Labs – A biotech startup
- Mistral – Another AI venture
Additionally, key figures behind Google’s popular NotebookLM product have also established their own AI startup.
DeepMind’s Robotics Innovations
DeepMind continues to advance in robotics, recently unveiling new AI models for robot control. Florence’s contributions are acknowledged in multiple citations of a paper detailing these models.
Future Aspirations for Generalist AI
During the GTC panel, Florence refrained from disclosing specifics about Generalist AI’s projects. However, he highlighted the startup’s ambitious goals:
“We are dead set on making robots that can do absolutely anything,” he stated, envisioning a future where the marginal cost of physical labor could be driven to zero.
Nvidia has declined to comment on the new venture, and Google has not responded to requests for information.
For more insights into the evolving landscape of robotics and AI, explore our related articles on robotics innovations and the future of artificial intelligence.
