FANUC said its robots support ROS, the open-source robot operating system widely used for AI and robotics development. They also offer broad compatibility with widely used technologies, including the Python programming language for AI development, high-speed communication interfaces for external robot control, and interfaces that enable easy operation from PLCs. Google’s Intrinsic robotics group is a major contributor to the ROS platform.

The collaboration will focus on integrating advanced AI capabilities across FANUC’s robotics lineup, including collaborative robots and large-scale industrial systems used in manufacturing environments.

FANUC said customer demand for physical AI applications has increased rapidly following demonstrations at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo last year. The company claims it has already shipped more than 1,000 robots for physical AI-related applications.

“Manufacturers are moving beyond the question of whether to use AI and focusing on how to apply it where it matters most—on the factory floor,” said Mike Cicco, president and CEO of FANUC America. “By combining FANUC’s industrial-grade robotics with Google’s advanced AI, we’re enabling customers to take on more complex, variable production while maintaining the reliability and performance that production environments demand.”