From Moonshot to Mandate
Google’s recent acquisition of Intrinsic, a company that builds AI models and software for industrial robotics, marks a significant bet on the future of manufacturing. Intrinsic’s mission is to make industrial robotics AI accessible to manufacturers without requiring armies of specialist engineers.
Meanwhile, the company’s web-based platform, Flowstate, allows users to build robotic applications without writing thousands of lines of code. Additionally, the platform is designed to be hardware-, software-, and AI-model-agnostic.
Why Now, Why Google?
The timing of the acquisition isn’t arbitrary. Google’s consolidation of robotics capability, including the hiring of Boston Dynamics’ CTO and the release of a standalone robotics SDK, positions the company to offer manufacturers a comprehensive solution. For example, Google can now provide AI models from DeepMind, deployment software from Intrinsic, and cloud infrastructure from Google Cloud – all under one roof.
However, the industrial robotics AI market is not small, with McKinsey projecting it to reach $370 billion by 2040. Therefore, Google’s acquisition of Intrinsic is a strategic move to tap into this growing market.
Furthermore, the integration of Intrinsic’s robotics development platform and vision models with Google’s broader AI ecosystem will enable machines to interpret sensor data better, adapt to dynamic environments, and execute complex tasks. Additionally, Intrinsic’s commercial pipeline is already in motion, with a strategic partnership with Foxconn focused on developing general-purpose intelligent robots for full factory automation.
