Physical Intelligence Raises $400M to Revolutionize Robot Brains

Physical Intelligence, a pioneering startup developing universal AI "brains" for robots, has secured $400 million in a funding round that values the company at approximately $2.4 billion post-money. The round, led by Jeff Bezos alongside Thrive Capital, Lux Capital, OpenAI, Redpoint Ventures, and Bond, marks a significant step forward in advancing robotics through Artificial Intelligence.

Founded by Karol Hausman, a former robotics scientist at Google, Physical Intelligence aims to create a single generalist AI model capable of controlling any robot. This approach seeks to replace the traditional paradigm of designing specialized software for each robotic system. Hausman emphasizes the revolutionary nature of their work, stating, "What we're doing is not just a brain for any particular robot—it's a single generalist brain that can control any robot."

The company's flagship product, π0 (pi-zero), represents a general-purpose robot foundation model. Unlike large language models (LLMs) tailored for text-based interactions, π0 integrates diverse data sources, including text, images, video, and physical interactions, to execute complex tasks in the real world. Demonstrations of π0 have shown robots performing intricate operations such as folding laundry, bussing tables, assembling boxes, and even distinguishing between trash and dishes. This level of versatility highlights the potential for π0 to transform industries reliant on robotic automation.

Physical Intelligence acknowledges the challenges of creating a universal robot brain, particularly large-scale multitasking and multi-robot data scarcity. However, the company sees this as an opportunity to pioneer foundational AI models for physical Intelligence, akin to what LLMs have done for language. The development of π0 builds on foundational robot models like OpenVLA and Octo, with π0 outperforming both on complex tasks. OpenVLA, a 7-billion-parameter model, and Octo, a 93-billion-parameter model, represent significant milestones in robotics, but Physical Intelligence technology is setting new benchmarks.

The funding round aligns with a growing trend of significant investments in AI-driven robotics. Earlier this year, Sunnyvale-based Figure raised $675 million to develop AI-powered robots for dangerous jobs. Pittsburgh's Skild AI secured $300 million for brain models adaptable to diverse robots and tasks. Investors like Bezos are betting heavily on the intersection of robotics and AI, positioning companies like Physical Intelligence at the forefront of this rapidly evolving sector.

Physical Intelligence's long-term vision involves creating a collaborative ecosystem with robotics labs and hardware manufacturers to refine its models and expand its data sources. The company believes that advancing generalist robot policies will require a collective effort from the entire robotics community. They aim to develop foundational software enabling robots to adapt to their environments, execute complex multipart tasks, and respond to user instructions seamlessly.

As robots become increasingly integral to logistics and healthcare sectors, Physical Intelligence's work promises to accelerate innovation in the field. By focusing on creating versatile, intelligent robot brains, the startup is addressing immediate industry needs and shaping the future of robotics. At the same time, π0 and similar models are still in their infancy; the strides made by Physical Intelligence signal a transformative era in AI-enhanced robotics.