Google DeepMind’s new AI model can control a robot’s entire body

<figure> <img alt="An image of Apptronik’s Apollo 2 robot taking a baseball glove off of a shelf" data-caption="Apptronik’s Apollo 2 robot takes a baseball glove off of a shelf. | Image: Google" data-portal-copyright="Image: Google" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/gemini-robotics-2-shelf.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Apptronik’s Apollo 2 robot takes a baseball glove off of a shelf. | Image: Google </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Google DeepMind says the latest version of its Gemini Robotics AI model can "control entire humanoid robots." While the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/628021/google-deepmind-gemini-robotics-ai-models">previous model focused</a> on controlling a humanoid robot's upper body, <a href="https://deepmind.google/models/gemini-robotics/vla/">Gemini Robotics 2</a> now supports "whole-body motions" ranging from its feet to fingertips, according to an <a href="https://deepmind.google/blog/gemini-robotics-2-brings-whole-body-intelligence-to-robots/">announcement on Thursday</a>.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The new model will allow humanoid robots to perform a wider range of actions, as it allows them to walk, crouch, stretch, and manipulate objects. Videos shared by Google show how Apptronik's Apollo 2 robot can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBftSI5mmHA">bend over to pick up</a> a watering can, as well as find and take specific items off a shelf. </p> <div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="Intelligent whole-body control with Gemini Robotics 2" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9MNLEAzA59o?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Though Google DeepMind not …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/973276/google-deepmind-gemini-robotics-2-whole-body">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>