Boston Dynamics' Zachary Jackowski on turning Atlas from demo robot into factory worker

Boston Dynamics is advancing its humanoid robot Atlas from a demonstration platform into a practical factory worker designed to operate in unpredictable industrial environments. Unlike earlier robots focused primarily on mimicking human movement, Atlas emphasizes efficiency, balance, perception, and autonomy to handle irregular parts, adapt to changing factory layouts, and work continuously without human intervention. At CES, Boston Dynamics introduced a 6.2-foot productized version of Atlas, signaling a shift toward deployment-ready hardware. With Hyundai Motor Group now the majority owner, the company aims to have Atlas operational in a Hyundai factory by 2028, marking a significant step toward integrating humanoid robots into real production settings where reliability and economic viability are paramount. Zachary Jackowski, Boston Dynamics’ VP and GM of Atlas, highlights that while impressive demos have captured public attention, the robotics industry is still in the early stages of developing AI capabilities for valuable manipulation tasks. Drawing on experience from their commercial robots Spot and Stretch, Boston Dynamics is confident in bringing Atlas to market