NVIDIA GROOT: Foundation Model for Humanoid Robotics

Nvidia Unveils Groot N1: An AI Foundation Model for Humanoid Robotics

Nvidia has announced the release of a new AI foundation model specifically designed for use in humanoid robotics. This development marks a significant step towards more versatile and intelligent robotic systems.

Groot N1: A Generalist Approach

The model, named Groot N1, was revealed at GTC 2025 in San Jose. It’s characterized as a “generalist” model, meaning it has been trained using a combination of both artificially generated and real-world data.

Nvidia highlights that Groot N1 incorporates a unique “dual-system architecture.” This design is intended to mimic the human cognitive process, enabling robots to engage in both rapid and deliberate thinking.

Evolution of Project Groot

Groot N1 represents an advancement from Nvidia’s earlier Project Groot, initially presented at last year’s GTC conference. While the original Project Groot was primarily focused on industrial applications, Groot N1 expands its scope to encompass a wider variety of humanoid robot designs.

How Groot N1 Functions

The model’s “slow-thinking” component allows robots to analyze their surroundings and understand both instructions and the context in which they are given. This facilitates effective planning of appropriate actions.

Conversely, the “fast-thinking” system translates these plans into concrete robotic movements. This includes complex actions involving the manipulation of objects through multiple sequential steps.

Open Source Availability and Supporting Tools

Nvidia is making Groot N1 available as an open source resource. Alongside the model itself, the company is also releasing simulation tools and detailed blueprints for creating synthetic data used in training.

Industry Perspective

“The age of generalist robotics is here,” stated Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia. This declaration underscores the company’s confidence in the potential of Groot N1 to revolutionize the field.

The Rise of Humanoid Robots

Humanoid robots have garnered considerable attention recently. Companies such as X1 and Figure are actively developing robots capable of performing a broad range of tasks with human-like movement.

Despite the technological advancements, significant challenges remain in achieving truly versatile and mass-producible humanoid robotic systems. Past setbacks in robotics development suggest that realizing this goal will be a complex undertaking.