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Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence is moving beyond screens and taking control of humanoid robots.
Google DeepMind has introduced Gemini Robotics 2, a new generation of AI models that allows robots to walk, crouch, handle objects, follow multi-step instructions, and work with other machines.
The development expands Gemini’s role in robotics from controlling upper-body movements to coordinating an entire humanoid, bringing Google closer to its goal of building general-purpose AI for the physical world.
Gemini gains full-body control
In demonstrations shared with WIRED, Google showed its AI controlling several robots, including Apptronik’s Apollo 2 humanoid.
One demonstration showed Apollo 2 responding to a request to place a watering can inside a green bin on a lower shelf. The robot walked toward the object, picked it up, moved to the shelf, crouched, and placed the watering can in the correct location.
Previous versions of Gemini Robotics primarily controlled a humanoid’s upper body and focused on tabletop tasks. Google DeepMind said the new system extends that control “from feet to fingertips.”
Gemini Robotics 2 also improves the robot’s ability to use its hands. In other demonstrations, Apollo 2 tied a trash bag, sealed a plastic storage bag, operated a dustpan, and installed or removed a lightbulb.
The launch builds on Gemini Robotics 1.5, which gave robots the ability to reason through multi-step tasks and transfer learned skills between different machines.
Three AI models power the robots
Google divided the system into three models.
Gemini Robotics 2 translates visual information and human instructions into physical movements. Gemini Robotics ER 2 acts as the planning system, allowing robots to understand their surroundings, divide assignments into smaller steps, and track their progress.
Gemini Robotics On-Device 2 runs locally on robotic hardware, allowing machines to operate without a constant internet connection. Google said the model can adapt to a new two-armed robot using fewer than 200 training examples collected over several hours.
Gemini Robotics ER 2 also introduces multi-robot collaboration. This allows different machines to communicate and divide a larger assignment between them, potentially supporting more complicated workflows in factories and warehouses.
Apollo 2 was unveiled earlier this month alongside Apptronik’s new 90,000-square-foot Robot Park, where robots perform industrial tasks and generate real-world data used to train AI models.
The robots still make mistakes
Despite the expanded capabilities, Google’s results show that the technology is not yet consistently reliable.
Gemini Robotics 2 achieved a 92% success rate when unscrewing a lightbulb but only 36% when screwing one in. It succeeded 44% of the time when tying a trash bag and 32% when using a dustpan.
Google has also introduced ASIMOV-Agentic, a safety benchmark that tests whether robotics models can reject dangerous instructions, recognize when a task cannot be completed safely, and seek human assistance when uncertain.
The company said the system can detect when a person moves too close to a robot and bring the machine to a safe stop.
The launch comes as competition shifts from building more capable robot bodies to developing the software that controls them. At least 13 embodied AI foundation models were released in June 2026, according to data compiled by robotics company Genmo.
What Gemini Robotics 2 means for the future of robots
Gemini Robotics ER 2 is now available through Google AI Studio and in private preview through the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform. Gemini Robotics 2 and its on-device version are currently limited to selected early-access partners.
The release shows how robotics competition is shifting toward AI that can operate different machines across a wider range of tasks and environments. Google’s results also show that progress remains uneven, meaning humanoid robots may be getting smarter quickly, but they are not yet ready to work without testing, safeguards, and human oversight.
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