Intrinsic Robotics Joins Google’s Alphabet
▼ Summary
– Intrinsic, an Alphabet-owned company that builds AI software for industrial robots, is joining Google as a distinct entity to collaborate closely with Google DeepMind.
– The company was spun out from Alphabet’s X research division in 2021 and has since acquired other robotics software firms, including Vicarious and parts of Open Robotics.
– Intrinsic’s core product is Flowstate, a software platform designed to make robotics more accessible to developers without deep robotics experience.
– The company formed a joint venture with Foxconn in 2025 to develop intelligent robots aimed at fully automating electronics manufacturing.
– This integration with Google is seen as a strategic move to advance “physical AI,” leveraging Google’s AI models and infrastructure to transform manufacturing.
Google is taking a significant step into the world of physical artificial intelligence by integrating a major robotics software platform into its core operations. The company has announced that Intrinsic, a developer of AI models and software for industrial robots, is now joining Google directly. While it will remain a distinct entity, Intrinsic will collaborate closely with Google DeepMind and leverage Google’s powerful Gemini AI models and cloud infrastructure. This strategic move underscores Google’s commitment to expanding AI’s role in the physical world, particularly within manufacturing and industrial automation.
Intrinsic originally emerged from Alphabet’s experimental X division, becoming an independent company under the Alphabet umbrella in 2021. Its journey since then has been marked by rapid growth and strategic acquisitions. Shortly after its spinout, the company acquired Vicarious, a robotics software firm that had attracted substantial investment, including backing from prominent figures like Jeff Bezos. This was followed by the acquisition of key divisions from Open Robotics, the non-profit behind widely-used robotics platforms.
Despite this aggressive expansion, Intrinsic underwent a workforce reduction in early 2023, a common recalibration in the tech industry. The company soon after launched its flagship product, Flowstate. This software platform is designed to simplify the creation of robotics workflows, specifically for developers without extensive robotics expertise, directly supporting Intrinsic’s mission to democratize access to advanced automation.
The company has continued to evolve its technology, enhancing simulation tools and releasing its Intrinsic Vision AI model. A major milestone was the formation of a joint venture with electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn in late 2025. This partnership aims to develop general-purpose intelligent robots to revolutionize electronics manufacturing, targeting complete factory automation.
Now, by moving under Google, Intrinsic gains unparalleled access to cutting-edge AI resources. CEO Wendy Tan White emphasized the transformative potential of this integration in a company blog post, stating that combining with Google’s AI and infrastructure will unlock physical AI for a wider range of manufacturers and developers, fundamentally shifting production economics and enabling advanced manufacturing.
This consolidation aligns with a broader industry trend where technology leaders are identifying physical AI as the next critical frontier. Executives from companies like Nvidia and Qualcomm have highlighted the immense potential for monetizing AI by moving it from purely digital applications into the tangible, operational realm of factories and production lines. For Google, bringing Intrinsic’s specialized robotics expertise in-house represents a strategic play to capture a leading position in this emerging and lucrative sector.
(Source: TechCrunch)
