Physically Intelligent Machines: AI That Moves, Adapts, and Evolves

At The Oracle, we track the evolution of intelligence beyond software—into physical form. This week, we explore Physically Intelligent Machines: systems that don’t just compute—they sense, adapt, and evolve within their environments.

Today’s AI is embodied. Robots like Unitree’s G1 are equipped with embedded sensing and real-time control software that allow them to adjust posture, compensate for obstacles, and execute complex movements automatically. This is embodied intelligence—action shaped by touch, balance, and adaptability.

Why This Matters

• 🟢 Unitree’s G1 now uses AI control to adapt movement in real time—adjusting to terrain and obstacles without user commands
• 🟣 Robots are beginning to learn from actuation and proprioception, not scripts
• 🟢 This generation of embodied AI enables resilient robotic systems—whether cleaning floors or navigating unknown environments
• 🟣 Intelligence is shifting from code into the body—transforming robotics into autonomous, physical agents

The Broader Shift

• 🟢 Physical AI represents a move from cloud-based logic to local adaptation on the move
• 🟣 Robots like Unitree’s, and China's autonomous Walker S2 that changes its own battery, are highlighting what real autonomy looks like
• 🟢 Soft and adaptive materials, combined with embedded sensors, are creating systems that can flex and respond like living organisms
• 🟣 This shift is foundational—not just for robots, but for how we define machine intelligence moving forward

Emerging Applications

• 🟢 Adaptive delivery robots that adjust form and gait for crowded urban terrain
• 🟣 Medical robots using full-body AI to perform remote supervised procedures, like Unitree G1 doing medical tasks at UCSD
• 🟢 Soft robotic systems capable of self-repair by integrating modular materials
• 🟣 Consumer AI robots that can sense human interaction, pressure, and adjust behavior in real time

The rise of physically intelligent machines marks a pivotal transformation in robotics. No longer are robots passive tools—they are sensing, adapting agents capable of dynamic behavior in real environments. This embodiment is where AI transitions from intelligence-as-logic, to intelligence-as-action.

At The Oracle, we’ll continue to track how these physical systems evolve and how they’ll redefine industries—from logistics and healthcare to domestic robotics and exploration. Because intelligence that moves isn’t just software—it’s alive.