Google DeepMind Plans Robotics Hardware Lab in Massachusetts

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Google DeepMind is developing a new robotics laboratory near Boston, expanding its hardware research operation under Aaron Saunders, formerly Boston Dynamics CTO and Google DeepMind’s vice president of hardware engineering.

Saunders disclosed the plans in a LinkedIn recruiting post. He said the lab will support development and testing as DeepMind shifts its focus from AI models to robot hardware. The announcement follows DeepMind's move beyond AI models. Saunders did not say how much the lab will cost or when it will open.

From Boston Dynamics to DeepMind

Saunders joined Google DeepMind in November 2025 after over twenty years at Boston Dynamics. He developed robots including the quadruped Spot and humanoid Atlas.

His appointment was part of DeepMind's effort to develop general-purpose AI systems for robotics. At the time, DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis described an ambition to make Gemini a universal intelligence platform for robots, similar to how Android powers phones. Such an approach would enable AI to operate on numerous robotic platforms simultaneously.
Establishing a dedicated hardware team helps DeepMind test their software on real‑world devices. Robots face mechanical and sensor limits that standard AI systems don't. They must operate within mechanical limits, process sensor information and respond to physical contact while performing tasks.

Training models in simulation reduces reliance on physical experiments, but real robots remain necessary to assess manipulation and locomotion, as well as responses to unforeseen situations. The Cambridge facility could provide space for that work.

DeepMind's Existing Robotics Partnerships

DeepMind works with robot manufacturers to apply its AI models in robots. In January, Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind formed a partnership to integrate Gemini Robotics foundation models into the Atlas humanoid.

The companies announced they will develop humanoids capable of performing a wider variety of industrial tasks, focusing on automotive manufacturing. The deal pairs Boston Dynamics' mobile-robot skills with DeepMind's AI systems that can do a broader spectrum of factory work.

The planned Cambridge lab is a unique development of DeepMind's hardware capabilities. Saunders did not indicate if the new facility will support the Boston Dynamics partnership or other outside manufacturers.

The location brings DeepMind close to Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston Dynamics in Waltham. The region hosts numerous robotics researchers and engineering firms. However, DeepMind has not announced any new academic partnerships connected specifically to the laboratory.

The new operation also follows the company's broader work on Gemini Robotics, a family of AI models, which integrate visual perception with sophisticated reasoning and robotic navigation.

DeepMind has presented the models as technology that underpins multiple robot architectures and use cases, while their effectiveness depends on hardware, training data and operating conditions.

Saunders indicated that more information would come in 2027. He didn't say if it will cover the lab, new hardware or research findings.