Imagine a robot that can fold your laundry, unzip your backpack, or follow your voice commands , all without needing Wi-Fi. Sounds like science fiction? Not anymore.
Google DeepMind has just introduced a game-changing technology called Gemini Robotics On-Device, and it’s about to change how robots work in the real world. What makes it special? These robots can now think and act without connecting to the internet.
What Is Gemini Robotics On-Device?
Gemini Robotics On-Device is a powerful version of Google’s AI model that runs directly on the robot itself. That means no cloud servers, no lag, and no need for constant internet access. The robot can understand what you say, see what’s around it, and make decisions , all on its own.
This is a big deal because most robots today rely on cloud computing. They send data to faraway servers to figure out what to do, which can be slow and risky if the internet connection drops. But with Gemini On-Device, everything happens locally, making robots faster, safer, and more private.
As India Today reports, this new model is small and efficient enough to run on different types of robots , from humanoids to factory arms and can learn new tasks with just 50 to 100 demonstrations.
How it works
At the heart of this innovation is a special kind of AI called a vision-language-action model. This enables the robot to see its surroundings, interpret natural language instructions, and turn those instructions into real-world actions.
All of this happens on the device itself. When you say something like “fold the towel,” the robot’s cameras and sensors analyze the situation, the AI understands your request, and the robot responds with accurate, coordinated movement.
From spotting a zipper to gripping and pulling it, the robot is able to carry out complex tasks thanks to the onboard version of Google’s Gemini model.
Why it matters
This breakthrough opens up exciting possibilities. Robots can now work in places where internet access is limited or unavailable — like remote farms, disaster zones, or even outer space. It also means better privacy for sensitive environments like hospitals or research labs, where sending data to the cloud isn’t ideal.
And it’s not just about folding clothes. These robots can handle complex, multi-step tasks and follow natural language instructions. That means you could one day tell your robot, “Please pack my bag for school,” and it would know exactly what to do.
According to Google DeepMind’s official blog, the model is designed for “general-purpose dexterity”, a fancy way of saying it’s good with its hands. It can adapt to new tasks quickly and perform them with precision.
What’s next?
Developers can now access a special software kit to test and customize Gemini On-Device for their own robots. This means we’ll likely see more smart, independent robots in homes, factories, and public spaces in the near future.
It’s a big step toward making robots more useful, more reliable, and more human-friendly. And the best part? They won’t freeze up just because the Wi-Fi went out.
