Isaac GR00T N1: Changing the game for robotics

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In this newsletter, we’re excited to share that Nvidia’s groundbreaking announcement of Isaac GR00T N1-the world’s first open foundation model for humanoid robots and its potential to revolutionize the robotics industry. From addressing global labor shortages to powering next-gen entertainment robots with Disney and Google DeepMind, Nvidia is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in AI and robotics. Dive in as we unpack the technology, partnerships, and vision shaping the future of humanoid robots.

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Nvidia’s GR00T N1 and the future of Humanoid Robots

For decades, humanoid robots have been a concept confined to science fiction and research labs. Today, they are poised to step out of those pages and into factories, hospitals, theme parks, and homes worldwide. Leading this technological revolution is Nvidia, which recently unveiled a suite of groundbreaking innovations at its GTC 2025 event. At the center of these announcements is the Isaac GR00T N1-the world’s first open foundation model for humanoid robots-alongside key partnerships and cutting-edge frameworks aimed at accelerating robot development globally.

The rise of humanoid robots

Humanoid robots are designed not only to assist humans but to resemble them-with arms, legs, a torso, and a head. Over the last decade, the acceleration of artificial intelligence, computing power, and materials science has brought these robots from theoretical concepts to operational reality. They are already being employed in industries ranging from hospitality and retail to healthcare and manufacturing, where they assist with repetitive or hazardous tasks and even engage in customer interactions.

Global labor shortages, estimated to exceed 50 million workers, have added urgency to the development of intelligent robotic solutions. As companies across sectors seek automation to fill workforce gaps, the need for adaptable, versatile humanoid robots has never been clearer.

Nvidia’s big bet: The Isaac GR00T N1 foundation model

At the core of Nvidia’s latest innovations is the Isaac GR00T N1-a fully open, customizable foundation model designed to bring generalized reasoning and skill execution to humanoid robots. Much like how large language models have transformed software applications, GR00T N1 aims to supercharge robotics by giving machines the cognitive abilities needed to operate autonomously in a variety of environments.

Dual-system architecture inspired by human cognition

GR00T N1 is built on a dual-system architecture, mirroring how humans process information and make decisions:

• System 1: A fast, reflexive model for intuitive and real-time action execution, allowing robots to respond to immediate stimuli efficiently.

• System 2: A slower, deliberative model capable of methodical reasoning, planning, and interpreting complex instructions through its vision-language capabilities.

Together, these two systems enable robots to perceive, plan, and execute actions with human-like agility and foresight.

In practical demonstrations, the model showcased its ability to handle complex, multi-step tasks such as object manipulation, tidying, and material handling with minimal additional training.

Industry adoption: From manufacturing floors to theme parks

Manufacturing as the first frontier

According to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, manufacturing is likely to be the first sector to fully embrace humanoid robots, given its structured environments and clearly defined workflows.

“The manufacturing sector is much more guard-railed, and the use case is specific. The economics are compelling, with the potential to rent a humanoid robot for about $100,000,” Huang explained at GTC.

By deploying robots equipped with GR00T N1, factories could automate tasks such as assembly, packaging, inspection, and material handling-relieving human workers from repetitive or physically strenuous duties.

Beyond the factory: Consumer and entertainment robotics

Nvidia’s reach extends beyond industrial applications. The company announced collaborations with entertainment giants like Disney Research and AI powerhouse Google DeepMind to advance robotic character development. One of the first applications will be Disney’s next-generation entertainment robots, including the Star Wars-inspired BDX droids that made a live appearance during Huang’s keynote.

“These droids are just the beginning,” said Kyle Laughlin, Senior Vice President at Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development. “Our partnership with Nvidia and Google DeepMind will allow us to create robotic characters that are more expressive and engaging than ever before-bringing stories to life in unprecedented ways.”

Newton: Redefining physics for robots

Complementing the GR00T N1 model is Newton, an open-source physics engine jointly developed by Nvidia, Google DeepMind, and Disney Research. Newton aims to help robots navigate real-world physical environments more effectively by accurately simulating interactions with deformable objects like fabric, food, or sand.

Key features of newton

• Built on Nvidia’s Warp framework.

• Compatible with existing platforms like Google DeepMind’s MuJoCo and Nvidia Isaac Lab.

• Designed to refine robotic movements and accelerate machine learning by up to 70 times via the MuJoCo-Warp framework.

For robotics developers, Newton represents a significant leap forward in training AI systems to understand and predict the complexities of physical interactions-something traditional algorithms have long struggled with.

Disney will also leverage Newton to enhance the realism and interactivity of its robotic characters in theme parks worldwide, beginning with pilot programs expected to launch next year.

Synthetic data: Accelerating humanoid training

Training humanoid robots to perform human-like tasks typically requires vast amounts of demonstration data-a process limited by real-world constraints. Nvidia’s solution? Synthetic data generation.

Isaac GR00T blueprint: Scaling data creation

The Isaac GR00T Blueprint, built on Nvidia Omniverse and Cosmos Transfer world foundation models, allows developers to generate large datasets rapidly:

• 780,000 synthetic motion trajectories were created in just 11 hours, equivalent to nine continuous months of human demonstration data.

• When combined with real-world data, this synthetic dataset improved GR00T N1’s performance by 40%.

This innovation dramatically reduces the time and cost required to train humanoid robots while enabling developers to iterate and customize models for diverse applications.

Collaboration across the ecosystem

Nvidia has engaged with leading robotics developers to fine-tune and deploy GR00T N1, including notable players such as:

• 1X technologies: which has already integrated GR00T N1 into its NEO Gamma humanoid robot.

• Agility robotics, boston dynamics, mentee obotics, and NEURA robotics: all of whom are now exploring GR00T N1’s potential to boost robot autonomy and generalization.

“We are on a mission to create robots that are not just tools but companions capable of assisting humans in meaningful, immeasurable ways,” said Bernt Børnich, CEO of 1X Technologies.

The DGX spark: Powering robotics innovation

To further support developers, Nvidia unveiled the DGX Spark, a personal AI supercomputer purpose-built to extend GR00T N1’s capabilities. DGX Spark allows robotics engineers to expand, retrain, and deploy new robot behaviors without extensive programming, providing a plug-and-play system that brings supercomputing power directly to robotics labs.

Addressing a global need

The launch of Isaac GR00T N1 and its supporting ecosystem comes at a time when businesses globally are grappling with acute labor shortages and growing demand for automation. Nvidia’s technologies are designed not just to create functional robots but to foster intelligent, adaptable machines that can operate safely and effectively in real-world environments.

“We are witnessing the dawn of generalist robotics,” said Jensen Huang. “With GR00T N1 and new frameworks like Newton, robotics developers everywhere will unlock the next frontier in AI.”

Availability and what’s next

• GR00T N1 foundation model, training data, and task evaluation scenarios are now available for download via Hugging Face and GitHub.

• Isaac GR00T blueprint is accessible on build.nvidia.com and GitHub.

• Newton physics engine is slated for release later in 2025 as part of an open-source initiative.

Additionally, Nvidia is hosting specialized sessions through its Humanoid Developer Day, offering in-depth insights into GR00T N1, Newton, and Disney’s robotic character platform.

Key sessions include:

• “An Introduction to Building Humanoid Robots”

• “Insights Into Disney’s Robotic Character Platform”

• “Announcing MuJoCo-Warp and Newton: How Google DeepMind and Nvidia Are Supercharging Robotics Development”

Conclusion

Nvidia’s bold entry into humanoid robotics signals the company’s vision to shape the next generation of automation. From industrial floors to entertainment venues, Isaac GR00T N1, Newton, and their companion technologies represent a monumental step toward generalist, intelligent robotics.

As industries worldwide grapple with growing automation needs, Nvidia is positioning itself at the intersection of AI, robotics, and digital twins-opening doors to a future where humanoid robots seamlessly integrate into daily life.

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