Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind have teamed up to put the Gemini AI system into the Atlas humanoid robot. This represents a significant step toward the industrial application of sophisticated cognitive AI. The announcement was made during Hyundai’s global presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where the two companies outlined plans to deploy intelligent humanoid robots in real-world manufacturing environments.
DeepMind and Boston Dynamics announce partnership
Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind confirmed that the Gemini AI model will become the core intelligence behind the next generation of Atlas humanoid robots. The integration will enable Atlas to better navigate complex spaces, recognize objects, and perform hands-on industrial tasks without step-by-step human control.
“The real value going forward is for our robots to be contextually aware of their environment and able to use their hands to manipulate any object,” said Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics, in an interview with WIRED. “And we think manufacturing environments, like in Hyundai factories, are a perfect place to deploy that today.”
According to both companies, DeepMind’s Gemini model provides advanced reasoning, spatial awareness, and real-time decision capabilities that allow robots to execute precise movements in unstructured factory settings. The collaboration builds on earlier work by Google DeepMind in multimodal AI systems and expands its reach into physical robotics.
Hyundai to deploy Gemini-powered Atlas in factories
Hyundai Motor Group, Boston Dynamics’ majority shareholder, plans to roll out Atlas robots equipped with Gemini at several automotive production sites, including facilities in the United States. Hyundai confirmed that the robots will handle repetitive and physically intensive tasks such as material handling, component inspection, and workflow coordination.
The South Korean automaker also announced broader plans to integrate the Atlas platform across its global manufacturing network by 2028. Executives said the goal is to improve efficiency while maintaining safety standards and supporting human workers in demanding environments.
At CES, Hyundai vice chair Jaehoon Chang addressed labor concerns and emphasized that human operators would remain essential.
“People will still be needed to train the robots and oversee their work,” he said.
Atlas unveiled as a production-ready enterprise robot
During CES, Boston Dynamics presented the production version of Atlas, describing it as the company’s most capable commercial robot to date. The humanoid stands over 2 meters tall, features 56 degrees of freedom, and can lift up to 50 kilograms. It operates in autonomous, teleoperated, or tablet-controlled modes and can connect directly to industrial systems through the company’s Orbit™ software platform.
“This is the best robot we have ever built,” said Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics. “Atlas is going to revolutionize the way industry works, and it marks the first step toward a long-term goal we have dreamed about since we were children, useful robots that can walk into our homes and help make our lives safer, more productive, and more fulfilling.”
Boston Dynamics confirmed that all Atlas deployments for 2026 are already committed, with early shipments destined for Hyundai’s Robotics Metaplant Application Center (RMAC) and Google DeepMind’s research division.
Gemini AI brings new intelligence to manufacturing robotics
Boston Dynamics’ new partner, Google DeepMind, designed the Gemini AI system as a multimodal model capable of processing visual, spatial, and linguistic data simultaneously. Carolina Parada, senior director of robotics at DeepMind, said that Gemini’s design makes it “well suited to understanding and learning about the physical world.” She added,
“Automotive is a great place to start, but certainly our intention is to continue expanding to more and more applications.”
DeepMind’s approach may transform factory automation by giving robots the ability to make situational judgments normally reserved for humans. Gemini’s inclusion is expected to help Atlas handle unexpected variables, such as obstacles or shifting assembly lines, without human intervention.
DeepMind's partnership with Boston Dynamics comes after it hired the latter's former CTO. This shows that both companies still want to mix AI and robotics knowledge.
Expanding competition in the humanoid robotics industry
The field of humanoid robotics is evolving rapidly. More than a dozen American companies, including Agility Robotics, Figure AI, and Tesla, are racing to develop viable humanoid systems. In China, CNBC reported that roughly 200 firms are working on similar technologies. Boston Dynamics’ collaboration with DeepMind represents one of the most advanced attempts yet to merge physical mobility with humanlike perception and decision-making.
With Hyundai preparing to produce up to 30,000 robots annually at a new robotics factory in the United States, as Reuters reported, the Gemini-Atlas partnership could mark a turning point for practical humanoid automation across global industries.
Gunel Ismayilova
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