Google DeepMind has brought in Aaron Saunders, the former chief technology officer of Boston Dynamics, to strengthen its robotics efforts. Saunders, who has a history of developing advanced robotic systems, will serve as VP of hardware engineering. This move aligns with CEO Demis Hassabis’s goal to create Gemini, an AI system intended to function as a universal robot operating system, similar to how Android operates on various smartphones. Hassabis envisions Gemini as adaptable to different robotic forms, including both humanoid and non-humanoid configurations. Boston Dynamics is well-known for its cutting-edge legged robots, including humanoid machines and the four-legged Spot. Saunders's background includes leading an amphibious six-legged prototype project and his promotion to CTO in 2021. Meanwhile, Google DeepMind has been active in robotics research, focusing on developing AI models that can effectively control robotic systems. Hassabis predicts that breakthroughs in AI-powered robotics will occur within the next few years. The robotics sector is seeing increased competition, especially among U.S. startups like Agility Robotics and Tesla, which plans to produce a million Optimus humanoids over the next decade. In contrast, Chinese companies like Unitree are gaining ground by offering cheaper legged robots. Unitree has recently surpassed Boston Dynamics in supplying four-legged systems for industries such as manufacturing and construction. While Hassabis acknowledges Unitree’s advancements, he emphasizes that his focus remains on enhancing the software capabilities of Google DeepMind's Gemini model, which boasts multimodal features ideal for robotics applications.