“It is now time to take Atlas out of the lab and show it.”

On the 5th (local time), at Hyundai Motor Group’s CES 2026 press conference held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, US. When Zachary Jackowski, Head of Atlas Development at Boston Dynamics, introduced the “next-generation electric Atlas research model,” a humanoid robot that had been lying down at the edge of the stage pushed off the ground and stood up. The robot, about the height of an adult (170 cm), lightly shook its head like a person, walked naturally to the center of the stage, and waved both hands left and right toward the audience.

The robot then rotated its shoulder and elbow joints, neck, and waist more than 180 degrees in sequence, using 56 directions of motion to demonstrate a wide range of movements beyond human capability. After completing demonstrations such as picking up an object from a low position and lifting it high above its head, or making motions as if tightening a screw, applause erupted from the audience.

● Hyundai challenges Tesla’s ‘Optimus’

On the same day, Boston Dynamics, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, also unveiled for the first time a “development model” of Atlas aimed at actual manufacturing sites. The development model has a more streamlined exterior than the research model and is characterized by its ability to autonomously replace battery modules, enabling uninterrupted work. Most joints rotate fully, and its human-sized hands are equipped with tactile sensors. It can lift up to 50 kg and extend its arms to reach up to 2.3 meters.

Hyundai Motor Group also announced a strategic partnership with DeepMind, Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) unit. Google DeepMind has been developing the robot AI foundation model “Gemini Robotics” based on its generative AI model “Gemini.” The two companies plan to combine Boston Dynamics’ robotics capabilities with DeepMind’s “AI brain” to take the lead in physical AI.

Hyundai plans to mass-produce Atlas and deploy it to industrial sites. From 2028, it will be assigned to parts-sorting tasks at “Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA)” in Georgia, US, and from 2030 the scope of work will be expanded to include assembly.

It was also reported that Chung Euisun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, who had attended the Korea-China Business Forum, boarded a private jet immediately after the forum and flew to Las Vegas, where CES 2026 is being held.

● LG humanoid that runs the washer and folds towels

With Hyundai Motor Group unveiling the next-generation Atlas, the industry expects a full-fledged “humanoid” hegemony battle. Tesla, which is developing the humanoid “Optimus,” had already deployed Optimus in one of its factories last year to verify on-site capabilities and announced plans for mass production.

LG Electronics also held a CES “World Premiere” event on the same day and unveiled “LG CLOiD,” a home robot that assists with housework. CLOiD is a humanoid with an upper body that has two arms and five-fingered hands like a human, and a lower body with wheels. With its two arms and five fingers, it can perform delicate, human-like movements, enabling it to carry out various household tasks on behalf of users.

During the event, CLOiD demonstrated receiving a handkerchief from a speaker on stage and placing it into a washing machine, and preparing onion soup while waiting for the user to return home from work. Ryu Jae-cheol, President of LG Electronics, said, “The home is the most difficult environment for AI to understand because it embodies an individual’s habits, lifestyle, and emotions,” adding, “As the global leader in home appliances, LG’s deep understanding of customers’ lifestyles is a differentiated strength.”

In addition, Samsung Display presented the “AI OLED Bot,” which features a 13.4-inch organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display in place of a face, while China’s Unitree and Booster Robotics are also scheduled to unveil humanoids that emphasize mobility and exercise capabilities.

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