Prominent DeepMind Robotics Researcher Departs from Google, Secures Funding from Nvidia for New Startup
Pete Florence Launches Generalist AI After Leaving DeepMind
Transition from DeepMind to Entrepreneurship
Pete Florence, a prominent senior research scientist known for his contributions to robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) at DeepMind, has recently departed from Google. He is now embarking on a new venture with his startup, Generalist AI. This initiative has already attracted notable investments from industry giant Nvidia, highlighting the interest and potential in the robotics field.
Generalist AI: A New Venture
At the Nvidia GTC conference held in San Jose, Florence was announced as the co-founder and CEO of Generalist AI. The event featured a panel focusing on portfolio companies of Nvidia’s venture capital division, NVentures. This firm has gained attention for being an aggressive investor, especially during the AI boom.
Florence described his startup as largely remaining in "stealth mode," meaning they are currently keeping a low profile while working on their projects. The primary goal of Generalist AI is ambitious: to create general-purpose robots that can perform a wide variety of tasks. During the panel discussion, he commented on the transformative vision for the future of robotics, stating, "We are dead set on making robots that can do absolutely anything." He also emphasized the significant impact this could have on the workforce, with the potential to reduce the marginal cost of physical labor to nearly zero.
The Background of Pete Florence
According to his LinkedIn profile, Florence exited DeepMind approximately a year ago. His departure aligns with a trend observed in the AI industry, where former DeepMind employees are starting their own ventures, such as Reflection AI in autonomous coding and biotech startup Latent Labs. Additionally, individuals from Google’s AI projects, including the popular NotebookLM, have taken similar entrepreneurial routes.
Technical Expertise and Team Building
Joining Florence at Generalist AI is Kamyar Ghasemipour, a former researcher at DeepMind, who will serve as a founding technical staff member. The expertise and experience Ghasemipour brings will be crucial as the startup develops its innovative solutions in robotics.
DeepMind’s Ongoing Robotics Efforts
While Florence is forging a new path, it’s worth noting that DeepMind continues to advance its own robotics initiatives. Recently, they unveiled new AI models designed for robot control, with significant contributions from Florence’s previous work, which is cited multiple times in their published reports.
Industry Context and Future Outlook
The robotics and AI sectors are experiencing rapid growth, driven by technological advancements and increased investment. Companies like Nvidia are capitalizing on these trends and actively seeking to fund innovative projects that can integrate AI into various applications. Florence’s move to launch Generalist AI aligns with this larger narrative of innovation and development in robotics, aiming to push the boundaries of what machines can accomplish.
As the field continues to evolve, startups like Generalist AI could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of labor and automation. With their focus on creating adaptable and versatile robots, there is a potential to revolutionize various industries, making physical work more efficient and accessible.
The excitement surrounding Florence’s new venture indicates a dynamic shift in the tech landscape, with a focus on practical applications of robotics that could significantly alter everyday life and business practices.
