If anyone brought up Hyundai’s significant press conference at CES, you would likely associate it with vehicles. Nevertheless, during CES 2026, Hyundai’s key event on Monday spotlighted robots from Boston Dynamics, showcasing the Atlas robot’s first public appearance beyond the laboratory.
The press conference commenced with a performance by Boston Dynamics’ Spot robots dancing before the formal announcements. You might have seen footage of Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, a bipedal humanoid robot, but those instances were always confined to the lab.
At CES 2026, Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot stepped onto the stage in front of a live audience for the first time prior to the introduction of the new version of the Atlas product. Credit: Mashable
Atlas took to the stage in its inaugural public appearance at CES. Despite its somewhat awkward stance, Boston Dynamics indicates that this is ideal for the robot, as it doesn’t need to replicate human motion.
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As Atlas navigated the stage, Boston Dynamics revealed the new version of Atlas designed for field usage. This upgraded Atlas can lift as much as 110lbs, extend its arms up to 7.5 feet, is completely water-resistant, and functions in temperature ranges from -4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It has rapid learning abilities for new tasks and can communicate knowledge with other Atlas robots. Its battery life is four hours, and Atlas can independently return to its charging station to change batteries.
Hyundai collaborates with Boston Dynamics to develop Atlas robots, provide actuators, and construct the supply chain. Hyundai plans to utilize all robots produced this year, sending them to Hyundai’s Robotics Metaplant Application Center (RMAC). Additionally, Google DeepMind is working together to improve Atlas’ cognitive functions with AI models.
The goal of Boston Dynamics and Hyundai is for Atlas robots to eventually undertake tasks in domestic settings after demonstrating their capabilities in manufacturing environments.