Gemini may soon be operating advanced robots capable of handling your household tasks.

      Meta

      The inevitable consequence of artificial intelligence has always been its application in robotics, and that future may be nearer than anticipated. Google has announced Gemini Robotics, an initiative aimed at bringing us closer than ever to "truly general-purpose robots."

      According to Google, AI robotics must possess three key qualities. Firstly, they should be capable of adapting in real-time to various situations. They need to not only comprehend but also react to changing environments. Lastly, the robots must be skilled enough to carry out tasks similar to those humans can accomplish with their hands and fingers.

      Google states, “While our previous work showcased advancements in these areas, Gemini Robotics signifies a significant enhancement in performance across all three dimensions, bringing us nearer to genuinely general-purpose robots.”

      Gemini Robotics: Dynamic interactions

      Research and advancements in robotics have seen remarkable progress in recent years. Boston Dynamics is particularly recognized for its robots that can walk and maneuver in public spaces, and you’ve likely seen videos of robot dogs circulating on TikTok. If Gemini Robotics achieves its goals, we could soon witness the introduction of true household assistants capable of performing tasks from cleaning to preparing your lunch.

      The initial trials of Gemini Robotics employed mounted arms to carry out activities such as playing tic-tac-toe, packing lunchboxes, and even playing cards — all while removing individual cards from a hand without bending them. This is made possible by integrating an advanced vision-language model known as Gemini Robotics-ER (Embodied Reasoning).

      Google is uniting cutting-edge research from various fields of robotics into a single entity, regulated by a set of safety guidelines that dictate robotic behavior. In January 2024, Google proposed a "Robot Constitution" to govern how these machines operate, largely inspired by Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. The team has since developed what is termed the ASIMOV dataset, which will help researchers better measure and evaluate robot behavior in real-world scenarios.

      Gemini Robotics: Dexterous skills

      Google has published a paper that is publicly accessible, but be aware that it is quite technical and intricate. Nonetheless, if you have an interest in robotics and the implications these projects may have for the future, it’s certainly worth a look.

      Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technologies, including products like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more.

      Google Messages can now function as your notes app. Please consider the implications.

      Google Messages recently received an update enabling Android users to use it as a notes application in addition to its regular messaging capabilities. This update went largely unnoticed until reported by Android Authority last Friday, highlighting that users can now send lengthy messages, high-quality media, and other content to themselves via RCS messaging, thus bypassing the limitations of traditional SMS texting. While this enhancement appears beneficial in theory, it is less practical in reality.

      Many individuals use messaging apps as a substitute for the original notes app that comes pre-installed on their devices. However, the issue is that text messages sent through RCS lack encryption, especially those sent to oneself, resulting in various security concerns. Shortly after Apple integrated cross-platform RCS messaging with Android last year, a group of Chinese hackers known as Salt Typhoon executed a cyberattack on U.S. communications networks, prompting warnings from the FBI and CISA about the necessity of using encrypted messaging platforms, particularly when messaging between Apple and Android devices.

      Google’s Gemini is becoming significantly smarter for iPhone users.

      Google's Gemini AI has received a substantial upgrade for iPhone users with the addition of its Deep Research feature. Initially introduced on Android devices, this feature is now being rolled out to iPhone users in phases. If you have not yet accessed this function, it is just a matter of time; as of now, it has not yet appeared on our devices at Digital Trends.

      The Deep Research feature "utilizes advanced reasoning and long context abilities to function as a research assistant, investigating complex topics and compiling reports on your behalf." This allows Gemini to conduct thorough and detailed research on nearly any subject, though it's important to note that the process is not quick.

      Can an AI chatbot assist you in quitting smoking? It absolutely can, but with significant caution.

      Earlier today, I conducted a live demonstration of ChatGPT as it provided insightful guidance on living a lifestyle free of nicotine. Two of my heavy-smoking friends witnessed the chatbot in action and appeared impressed. Less than an hour later, I noticed them sharing a cigarette through a glass window.

      "It lacks coercion," one of them admitted somewhat sheepishly. I don’t believe the AI failed in its task; rather, I think human cravings won out this time. Whether or not you are convinced by the AI chatbot phenomenon, there is one area where advancements in AI have made a noteworthy impact.