This Open Source Robot Brain Thinks in 3D

European roboticists today released a powerful open-source artificial intelligence model that acts as a brain for industrial robots—helping them grasp and manipulate things with new dexterity.

The new model, SPEAR-1, was developed by researchers at the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) in Bulgaria. It may help other researchers and startups build and experiment with smarter hardware for factories and warehouses.

Just as open source language models have made it possible for researchers and companies to experiment with generative AI, Martin Vechev, a computer scientist at INSIAT and ETH Zurich, says SPEAR-1 should help roboticists to experiment and iterate rapidly. “Open-weight models are crucial for advancing embodied AI,” Vechev told WIRED ahead of the release.

SPEAR-1 differs from existing robot foundation models in that it incorporates 3D data into its training mix. This gives the model an enhanced understanding of the physical world, making it easier ...