At Google, robotics lab is full of fast learners

While the machines may not be as eye-catching as humanoid robots, Google researchers believe that the subtly more advanced technology inside them gives them more potential in the real world. The company is developing ways for these robots to learn skills on their own, like sorting through a bin of unfamiliar objects or navigating a warehouse filled with unexpected obstacles.

Google’s new lab is indicative of a broader effort to bring machine learning to robotics. Researchers are exploring similar techniques at places like UC Berkeley and OpenAI, the artificial intelligence lab founded by Elon Musk and Sam Altman. In recent months, both places have spawned startups trying to commercialize their work.