Skild AI, a robotics company supported by Amazon and Japan’s SoftBank Group, has introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) model called Skild Brain, Reuters reports. Skild Brain is designed to work on many types of robots, from factory machines to human-like robots. Unlike older robots that can only do one specific task, this model helps robots handle a variety of jobs. The launch is part of a growing effort to create robots that can perform more complex tasks in different settings.
In videos shared by the company, robots using Skild Brain showed they could climb stairs, stay balanced after being pushed, and pick up objects in messy spaces. These tasks require spatial reasoning, which is the ability to understand and navigate physical spaces, and adaptability to changes around them. The model also has safety features that limit the force robots use, preventing them from causing harm. Skild AI trains its model using computer-simulated scenarios, and videos of human actions. It then improves the model by collecting data from robots in use, solving the problem of limited robotics data, as there is little information available online compared to language or images.
Broad applications and future growth
The Skild Brain creates a shared system where all robots using it can learn from each other, improving their skills over time. This approach allows robots to quickly gain new abilities for different industries. Clients like LG CNS, the technology division of LG Group, and other companies in logistics, which involves managing the transport of goods, are already using this technology. Unlike software that can be updated instantly, robotics needs physical setup, which takes time, but Skild’s method speeds up adding new features. Founded two years ago, Skild AI raised $300 million in funding, valuing the company at $1.5 billion. Investors include Menlo Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Jeff Bezos. The company has hired experts from Tesla, Nvidia, and Meta to advance its work, aiming to transform industries like manufacturing and logistics with smarter, safer robots.