World Models Pioneer Danijar Hafner Makes TR35, Reveals Stealth Humanoid Robot Startup
danijarh · x · 2026-09-11
Danijar Hafner, creator of Dreamer/PlaNet and former Google DeepMind researcher (age 31), has been named to MIT Technology Review's 2026 Innovators Under 35 — and revealed details of his stealth startup.
Key points:
- The SF SoMa office is filled with humanoid robots imported from China
- The startup continues his 8-year world models work: getting agents to handle environments unseen in training
- Built on model-based reinforcement learning: training world models for imagination training and motor control
- Core thesis: robots entering human homes must handle floor plans and furniture they've never seen before
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