Boston Dynamics is a pioneer in the field of humanoid robots. The atlas first appeared in 2013. before becoming the advanced bipedal bot he is today.
Since then, thanks to advances in robotic hardware and artificial intelligence, a host of technology companies, large and small, have entered the fray, working at speed to try to be the first to create something that can be deployed at scale for tasks in industrial settings. or even at home.
Boston Dynamics is still very much in the race, and at CES 2026 on Monday, the Massachusetts-based company shared several close-ups of its Atlas humanoid robot.
The first involves the Korean automaker Hyundai, the main sponsor of Boston Dynamics. The goal is to integrate the Atlas into Hyundai's global production network, starting with pilot projects at the automaker's state-of-the-art metaplant in Georgia.
“Atlas will be implemented into processes with proven safety and quality benefits, such as part sequencing.” the company said in the release. “By 2030, applications will expand to component assembly, and over time, Atlas will also handle tasks involving repetitive motion, heavy loads and other complex operations, providing a safer work environment for plant workers.”
Boston Dynamics is also collaborating with Google's DeepMind AI research lab to bring more AI capabilities to the latest version of Atlas.
The technology will provide a humanoid robot with advanced perception, reasoning and human interaction, and Atlas devices are already heading to DeepMind for testing and scaling.
“This collaboration will combine Boston Dynamic's leadership in robotics with Google DeepMind's advanced robotic AI core models to drive the development of revolutionary technologies,” the company said.
The two-minute video (above), released by Boston Dynamics on Monday, includes clips that show how far the company's robots have come over the years. It also claims that Atlas is moving towards becoming a “superhuman robot” that is “built to perform, built to perform.” He adds that he envisions a world in which “robots come with us as assistants and companions to make life easier, safer and more fulfilling.” Lofty words indeed, but given Boston Dynamics' solid track record, as well as its crucial advantage of fast integration through Hyundai ownership, few would bet on the company turning its vision into reality.
