At the NVIDIA GTC 2025 conference, a significant partnership between NVIDIA, Disney Research, and Google DeepMind was announced, showcasing advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang revealed that the collaboration aims to develop a new physics engine named Newton, designed to simulate robotic movements in real-world settings. This innovative technology is set to revolutionize the way robots interact with their environment.
Disney plans to leverage Newton for its next-generation entertainment robots, such as the Star Wars-inspired BDX droids. These robots, which have already been demonstrated at events like SXSW 2025, are expected to enhance the experience at Disney parks worldwide, starting in 2026.
Newton is designed not just for entertainment purposes; it will also enable more expressive robotic movements, allowing these advanced machines to handle complex tasks with precision. According to NVIDIA, the physics engine can simulate interactions with various materials, including food, cloth, and deformable objects, which often present challenges in robotic development.
This technological feat is part of a broader collaboration between the three companies. Earlier this week, at the GTC event, it was announced that Google Cloud will support NVIDIA's latest GPUs, enhancing AI capabilities across diverse sectors. Specifically, Google introduced its A4 VM, based on NVIDIA's HGX B200 GPU, which is now generally available, along with the upcoming A4X VMs based on the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72.
These advancements signify NVIDIA's commitment to improving the performance of its graphics processing units (GPUs), enabling faster training times for AI models. The collaboration positions Google DeepMind’s Gemini model at the forefront of AI technology, making it accessible to more developers and end-users. Recently, Google DeepMind launched Gemma 3, a new addition to its open model collection, which NVIDIA optimized for its vast accelerated computing ecosystem.
In addition, NVIDIA showcased the SynthID watermarking tool, developed in partnership with Google DeepMind, on its Cosmos video generation platform, enhancing user trust in AI-generated content.
This partnership is not just limited to creating advanced tools; it is also focused on solving some of the world’s most significant challenges. NVIDIA and Google are collaborating on projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and drug discovery. They are working together on Tapestry, a project from X, which seeks to enhance electric grid simulations, as well as efforts from Isomorphic Labs to expedite medicine development using AI.
Furthermore, NVIDIA's foundation models are making robots more capable. Collaborating with Intrinsic, they aim to integrate advanced models into robotics that will help improve adaptive capabilities. Google DeepMind and NVIDIA also announced the launch of MuJoCo-Warp, a new open-source physics simulator to advance robotics research.
This deepened partnership signals a commitment to advancing technology in a way that benefits society at large. Huang emphasized that the collaboration aims to push the boundaries of AI, making advanced technology more accessible to developers and ultimately benefiting users through innovative applications.
For those attending GTC, Google Cloud has set up booth #914, where insights into the ongoing partnership with NVIDIA will be shared. This is an exciting time for advancements in AI and robotics, as these technologies promise to transform various sectors, including entertainment, healthcare, and energy.
Innovation in robotics and AI is on the horizon, and the collaborative efforts between these technological giants are expected to lead to groundbreaking solutions that address complex challenges and improve everyday life. This burgeoning relationship illustrates the potential of combining advanced infrastructures and research expertise to redefine the role of AI in our daily endeavors.
The future of AI and robotics looks bright as these companies continue to explore the frontiers of technology, crafting solutions that are not only pioneering but also enriching the human experience.
