Boston Dynamics Integrates DeepMind AI Into Spot for Smarter Industrial Inspections

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:19:00 +0200

Boston Dynamics has upgraded its quadruped robot Spot with a new layer of intelligence by integrating Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics-ER 1.6 system. This collaboration enhances Spot’s ability to operate autonomously in industrial environments, performing inspection tasks that typically require human oversight. The robot can now detect spills, read complex gauges, identify debris, and even decide when to call upon other AI tools for further analysis. The goal is to make Spot capable of reasoning about its surroundings to improve safety and reliability in hazardous or complex workspaces.

According to Marco da Silva, vice president and general manager of Spot, these advances mark a notable step toward giving robots greater agency in understanding and responding to the physical world without constant human input. Boston Dynamics has already deployed several thousand Spots in industrial roles worldwide — from energy plants to manufacturing sites — where they monitor conditions and reduce