Physical intelligence: Amazon founder Bezos invests in AI-supported robotics

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and other investors are backing the robotics start-up Physical Intelligence. The investors are pouring a total of 400 million US dollars into the company, which is valued at 2.8 billion dollars.

The main investors are Jeff Bezos, OpenAI, Thrive Capital, Khosla Venture, Lux Capital, Seqoia Capital and Bond Capital.

Basic model π0

With their help, the start-up intends to bring universal AI to the physical robot world. To this end, Physical Intelligence is developing basic models and learning algorithms that can control robots and physical devices.

Specifically, Physical Intelligence has already developed a universal base model called π0. It forms the basis for the development of artificial physical intelligence. It should then make it possible for humans to use voice instructions to prompt robots to carry out tasks – in a similar way to how large language models (LLMs) currently enable chatbots via text, for example.

The π0 model is trained with an extensive and diverse data set, writes Physical Intelligence (PDF). In addition to texts, images and actions are also taken into account. This allows robots to be trained on embodied experiences. This means that the robot learns the output of motor commands.

π0 can control different robots, so it is not limited to one type of robot. It can also be customized for specific robot applications.

This is already working, as Physical Intelligence shows in a blog post. It shows individual video sequences of a two-armed robot folding laundry, clearing out the washing machine and separating dishes and waste. In addition, two robot arms can be coordinated in such a way that they are able to assemble a cardboard box.

(olb)