Paris-based UMA, founded by ex-Tesla Optimus scientist Rémi Cadene and ex-Google DeepMind researcher Pierre Sermanet, showcased its AI humanoid robot, Northstar, which weighs 40kg and is designed for applications in factories, warehouses, and homes. This demonstration aligns with a broader trend in Europe, where startups are pushing forward the development of AI-driven humanoid robots for versatile roles in various sectors, leveraging the expertise of leaders with backgrounds in companies like Tesla and Google DeepMind. UMA plans to unveil a proof-of-concept for Northstar by the end of the year.

UMA: UMA is a Paris-based startup focused on developing general-purpose mobile and humanoid robots powered by AI. Co-founded by experts with backgrounds in major AI and robotics organizations, the company recently demonstrated its Northstar humanoid robot prototype aimed at factory, warehouse, and home environments. The venture emphasizes European leadership in physical AI applications.
Rémi Cadene: Rémi Cadene is the CEO and co-founder of UMA, bringing experience as a scientist on Tesla’s Optimus project and prior work co-founding LeRobot at Hugging Face. He is leading efforts to advance lightweight AI humanoid robots with a focus on European markets and practical deployments. His expertise supports UMA’s recent Northstar prototype demonstration.
Pierre Sermanet: Pierre Sermanet serves as Chief Scientist and co-founder of UMA, drawing on his research background at Google DeepMind in AI and robotics. He contributes to building general-purpose humanoid systems through advanced machine learning approaches. His role underpins the technical foundation of UMA’s Northstar robot unveiled in the news.

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