Generalist AI, a startup building embodied robotics intelligence, announced it has raised $400 million in new funding, bringing its valuation to $2 billion.
Radical Ventures led the round, with participation from 8VC, Union Square Ventures, Hanabi Capital, and existing backers Nvidia Corp. and Bezos Expeditions.
Founded by former DeepMind senior scientist Pete Florence, the company aims to create general intelligence for robotics. The team also includes Chief Scientist Andy Zeng and CTO Andrew Barry, a former roboticist from Boston Dynamics.
The startup's GEN-1 model, released in April, is an AI foundation model for robot learning that demonstrates mastery of physical tasks. It adapts to real-world changes like part deformation or shifting grip, making robots more flexible than traditional rigid systems.
The investment reflects a growing interest in physical AI, which includes robotics, autonomous vehicles, drones, and smart infrastructure. Nvidia has called this area the next trillion-dollar industry.
Generalist AI's models exceed current robotic systems by adding adaptivity, allowing machines to learn and adjust on the fly-like folding a shirt that doesn't cooperate. This paves the way for robots that can work safely and efficiently alongside humans in industrial, retail, and domestic settings.