One of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots is finally on its way to work. Boston Dynamics and its partner, Hyundai Motors, unveiled the Atlas product at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on Monday (January 5).
After developing impressive robotics technology for more than three decades and spending years building Atlas (first as mainly hydraulic, and now all-electric), this new version of Boston Dynamics’ humanoid will join the company’s Spot quadraped robot in manufacturing.
We cover all the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stay with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable screens for new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets and the latest in artificial intelligence.
And don’t forget it follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!
According to a release, the Atlas product brings 56 degrees of freedom, self-replacement battery, significant strength (it can lift up to 110 pounds) and even weather resistance, which could prove valuable in some factory environments.
The Atlas humanoid product is also equipped with human-like hands that include tactile sensors, and the company claims it can be trained on new tasks in under a day.
Even with all this, Atlas isn’t punching any time cards yet. Along with its partner Hyundai, Boston Dynamics has a phased plan to introduce the Atlas first to the automaker’s Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Savannah, Georgia.
Its first job will be in sequencing parts, but by 2030 the Atlas product could be at work in component assembly. According to the release, “Atlas will also take on tasks involving repetitive motions, heavy loads and other complex operations.”
However, the goal here is not human labor replacement, but “safer work environments for factory workers.”
Boston Dynamics achieved this milestone in part with the help of Nvidia’s AI infrastructure and models to accelerate physical robotics training. That cooperation has been in place since the beginning of last year.
Not content to lean on an AI leader, Boston Dynamics also announced a strategic partnership with Google’s DeepMind. The pair will work together to develop Google’s “groundbreaking robotic AI foundational models.” What this likely means is that Atlas’ training and skills may accelerate in 2026.
What’s missing here is any mention of costs even on a per-robot basis. Spot generally costs $75,000 per paragraph The Atlas Humanoid product is probably at least double (if not triple) that. Boston Dynamics also differentiates itself from competitors like 1X (Neo Beta), Figure AI (Figure 03), and Tesla Optimus, all of which have plans (some coming soon) to deploy humanoid robots into homes. Atlas’s robo-optic sight is fixed at the factory site.
TechRadar will extensively cover this year’s CESand will bring you all the big announcements as they happen. Head over to ours CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable screens to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets and the latest in artificial intelligence.
And don’t forget it follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!
