Nvidia, Disney, and Google DeepMind Collaborate on AI-Powered Robotics with 'Newton' Physics Engine

Nvidia Announces Collaboration with Disney and Google DeepMind

In a groundbreaking announcement at the GPU Technology Conference (GTC) 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed a collaborative effort between Nvidia, Disney Research, and Google DeepMind to develop 'Newton', an advanced physics engine designed to simulate robotic movements in real-world environments 1

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The Newton Physics Engine

Newton is set to address the "sim-to-real" gap, where simulations often fail to match reality accurately. This open-source physics engine aims to help robotics developers create more precise models of real-world physics, supporting diverse behaviors and custom interactions 3

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Key features of Newton include:

• Enhanced expressiveness for robots
• Improved precision in complex task handling
• Compatibility with Google DeepMind's ecosystem of robotic development tools, including MuJoCo
• Customizability for various interactions, including food items, cloth, and sand 1

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Nvidia plans to release an early, open-source version of Newton later in 2025, empowering the entire robotics community to contribute to its development 2

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Disney's Next-Generation Entertainment Robots

Disney will be among the first to utilize Newton in powering its next-generation entertainment robots. The Star Wars-inspired BDX droids, which have been showcased in controlled demos, are set to become a reality in Disney's theme parks worldwide 1

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Kyle Laughlin, Senior Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development, stated, "The BDX droids are just the beginning. We're committed to bringing more characters to life in ways the world hasn't seen before, and this collaboration with Disney Research, Nvidia, and Google DeepMind is a key part of that vision" 3

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Nvidia's Additional AI Announcements

At GTC 2025, Nvidia also unveiled several other AI-related innovations:

1. Groot N1: An AI foundation model for humanoid robots, designed to enhance perception and reasoning about environments 1

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2. Next-gen AI chips: A timeline for Blackwell Ultra and Rubin chips 1

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3. Personal AI computers: A new line of AI-powered personal computing devices 1

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Implications for the Future of Robotics

The collaboration between Nvidia, Disney, and Google DeepMind represents a significant step forward in the field of robotics and AI. As Jensen Huang stated, "The age of generalist robotics is here" 4

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. This partnership not only promises to bring more immersive experiences to Disney's theme parks but also has the potential to accelerate the development of more sophisticated and capable robots for various applications in the near future.