In a significant shift within the tech landscape, Pete Florence, a former senior research scientist at DeepMind, has departed from Google to spearhead an ambitious robotics startup named Generalist AI. This move comes on the heels of securing investment from tech giant Nvidia, as unveiled during a recent panel at Nvidia's GTC conference in San Jose.

As co-founder and CEO of Generalist AI, Florence emphasized the startup's goal of turning general-purpose robots into a reality. "We are largely still in stealth," he stated, indicating that the company is in its early development phase while working on innovative robotics solutions.

Florence’s transition from DeepMind to launching his own venture is part of a growing trend of ex-DeepMind employees starting their own companies. Notable instances include Reflection AI, an autonomous coding startup, and Latent Labs, specializing in biotechnology. This wave of innovation highlights the rich talent pool and potential for groundbreaking advancements in AI and robotics.

According to Florence's LinkedIn profile, he left DeepMind a year ago, and he is not alone in this journey; Kamyar Ghasemipour, a student researcher from DeepMind, has joined Generalist AI as a founding technical staff member. Their combined expertise is expected to propel the company towards success in developing cutting-edge robotic technology.

The financial backing from NVentures, Nvidia's venture arm, reflects the firm's aggressive investment strategy, especially amid Nvidia's meteoric rise within the AI sector. During his presentation at GTC, Florence hinted at ambitious plans, stating, "We are dead set on making robots that can do absolutely anything." Envisioning a future where the marginal cost of physical labor approaches zero, he urged attendees to imagine the transformative implications of such technology.

While DeepMind continues to innovate in robotics with new AI models, Florence's bold venture signifies a potential paradigm shift in how robots might integrate into various sectors of society. As for Google and Nvidia, neither company has commented on Florence's transition or the startup venture, but the tech ecosystem will be watching closely as Generalist AI unfolds its vision.

Prepare for a revolution in robotics—this is just the beginning!