Viqus Logo Viqus Logo
Home
Categories
Language Models Generative Imagery Hardware & Chips Business & Funding Ethics & Society Science & Robotics
Resources
AI Glossary Academy CLI Tool Labs
About Contact

Creepy Crawlers: General AI Robots Take a Shocking Step Forward

Artificial Intelligence Robotics AI Adaptation Machine Learning Skild AI Robot Brain General AI
September 24, 2025
Source: Wired AI
Viqus Verdict Logo Viqus Verdict Logo 8
Adaptive Intelligence
Media Hype 7/10
Real Impact 8/10

Article Summary

Skild AI’s development of ‘Skild Brain,’ a generalist AI algorithm trained on a diverse range of robotic hardware and tasks, represents a significant leap in robotic AI. Unlike traditional training methods relying on teleoperation or simulation, Skild’s approach uses a single algorithm to control numerous robots across varied environments. This leads to a remarkably adaptable AI capable of responding to unforeseen circumstances, such as losing limbs or experiencing morphological changes. The core innovation lies in the robot’s ability to ‘learn’ and apply its knowledge to entirely new situations, mimicking the adaptive capabilities seen in large language models. The ‘LocoFormer’ model, a smaller version, demonstrated impressive adaptability, controlling different robot shapes and even walking on its hind legs after its legs were removed. The system’s online learning capability, coupled with aggressive domain randomization, further enhances its robustness. This technology is attracting significant attention, with competitors like the Toyota Research Institute and Physical Intelligence also pursuing similar generalist AI models. Skild’s success, bolstered by a recent $300 million funding round, suggests a future where robots can seamlessly transition between tasks and environments, potentially revolutionizing industries from manufacturing to logistics.

Key Points

  • Skild AI developed ‘Skild Brain,’ a generalist AI algorithm trained on a diverse range of robotic hardware.
  • The ‘LocoFormer’ model demonstrates impressive adaptability, able to control different robot shapes and walk on its hind legs after losing its limbs.
  • The system’s online learning capability and aggressive domain randomization contribute to its robustness and ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.

Why It Matters

This news is significant because it suggests a fundamental shift in how we approach robotic AI. Instead of creating specialized robots for specific tasks, a single, adaptable AI could control a wide range of hardware, reducing the need for extensive customization and dramatically increasing the potential for robot versatility. This has implications for automation, manufacturing, disaster response, and ultimately, the relationship between humans and robots. For professionals in robotics, AI, and automation, this represents a compelling area for research and development, as a genuinely general AI robot could reshape entire industries.

You might also be interested in