Nvidia Enters Robotics Arena with AI-Powered Robot ‘Blue’
The idea of a helpful robot companion in the home, once confined to science fiction, is edging closer to reality.
American technology corporation Nvidia has emerged as a key player striving to make this vision tangible.
Introducing Blue: Nvidia’s Bipedal AI Robot
On Tuesday in California, the semiconductor giant presented Blue, an endearing and sophisticated AI-driven robot. Standing at three feet tall and equipped with two legs, Blue was showcased during a keynote address.
Footage captured Blue, reminiscent in appearance to the robot from the Pixar film Wall-E, making its entrance onto the stage as introduced by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
‘Tell me that wasn’t amazing,’ Huang remarked to the audience as Blue ambled towards him, exhibiting a gait similar to a duck. ‘Look how intelligent you are!’
Echoing the interactions of R2-D2 and C-3PO from Star Wars, Blue responded with a series of charming beeps and bloops as it looked up at its creator.
However, the demonstration revealed that Blue is still under development, as the robot was being remotely controlled from backstage.
Competition Heats Up: Boston Dynamics Responds
It appears Nvidia’s unveiling has spurred a reaction from Boston Dynamics, which released a new video showcasing its own humanoid robot performing advanced movements.
Nvidia’s Star Wars-inspired robot, named Blue, appears on stage during a keynote session at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, on March 18, 2025
The robot bears a striking resemblance to some of Disney’s other iconic designs such as Wall-E from the 2008 animation of the same name
Blue’s Origins and Purpose
Mr. Huang introduced Blue at Nvidia’s GTC AI Conference in San Jose, California, an event some have dubbed ‘the Super Bowl of AI’.
Drawing inspiration from Star Wars, Blue is the result of a collaboration involving Google and Disney, the owner of the Lucasfilm franchise.
Disney intends to feature the robot at several of its theme parks this summer, including Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Paris.
Nvidia processors power Blue, which is engineered with Newton, a potent AI-driven physics engine, enabling it to execute ‘complex tasks’.
Nvidia’s Shift Towards AI Infrastructure
Since its inception in 1993, Nvidia has specialized in graphics processing units (GPUs), highly sought after by video game enthusiasts.
GPUs are also exceptionally well-suited for artificial intelligence, and the expansion of AI technology has propelled the Silicon Valley-based chip manufacturer to prominence.
‘We’re not making chips anymore; those were the good old days,’ Huang stated. ‘What we do now is build AI infrastructure.’
Boston Dynamics’ Atlas Demonstrates Agility
In what may be a timely response on X, Boston Dynamics shared a new clip of its humanoid robot Atlas showcasing impressive acrobatic feats.
Like R2-D2 talking to C-3PO in Star Wars, Blue responded with an adorable series of bleeps and bloops as it looks up at its master, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
In perhaps a well-timed X post , rival Boston Dynamics shared a new clip of its humanoid called Atlas performing some impressive acrobatics
Last year, Boston Dynamics unveiled a new version of its Atlas humanoid robot, showing its creepy movements that make it look like something out of a sci-fi horror movie
Atlas: Pushing the Boundaries of Robotics
This updated iteration of Atlas, initially presented last year, is shown in the recent video performing cartwheels, forward rolls, handstands, and short sprints.
It also crawls and executes a complex breakdancing sequence—though, similar to Blue, the latest demonstration is not entirely autonomous.
Boston Dynamics confirmed that Atlas’s movements in this instance are directed via ‘motion capture,’ mirroring the actions of a human operator.
Atlas is not commercially available but serves as a ‘research platform designed to push the limits of whole-body mobility,’ according to the company.
The robot’s capabilities have been progressively enhanced since its initial debut in July 2013.
Boston Dynamics describes Atlas as a ‘high mobility, humanoid robot designed to navigate outdoor, uneven terrains’.
Its intended application is to aid emergency services in search and rescue operations.