TL;DR
Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind announced a research partnership at CES 2026 to integrate DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics foundation models with Boston Dynamics’ new Atlas humanoid robots. The collaboration aims to enable industrial tasks—initially targeting automotive manufacturing—with joint research to begin in the coming months.
What happened
At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind unveiled a strategic collaboration to marry Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid platform with DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics AI foundation models. The two firms said the effort will focus on developing visual-language-action capabilities that let humanoid robots perceive, reason, use tools and interact with people, with an early emphasis on industrial workstreams in the automotive sector. Research will be carried out by teams at both organizations and is expected to start within months of the announcement. Boston Dynamics framed the move as a continuation of its shift toward commercial humanoids—an effort it publicly began in 2024 after rapid advances in AI accelerated training and deployment prospects. DeepMind described its Gemini Robotics models as intended to extend multi-modal AI into physical systems and to support safe, scalable deployment across diverse tasks and robot types. The announcement was made during Hyundai’s scheduled CES media presentation; Hyundai Motor Group is Boston Dynamics’ majority shareholder.
Why it matters
- Combines Boston Dynamics’ robotics hardware with DeepMind’s foundation models, potentially accelerating humanoid capabilities for real-world tasks.
- Targets industrial use cases—starting with automotive manufacturing—where humanoids could augment or reshape factory operations.
- Aims to develop visual-language-action models, which could improve robots’ ability to interpret instructions, manipulate tools and work around people.
- Focus on safety and scalability reflects industry concerns about deploying advanced AI-driven robots outside lab settings.
Key facts
- The partnership was announced at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, 2026.
- Boston Dynamics will integrate DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics foundation models with its Atlas humanoid robots.
- Joint research is planned to begin in the coming months and will be conducted at both companies.
- Boston Dynamics publicly set a goal to build a commercial humanoid in 2024, citing recent AI advances.
- Gemini Robotics is built on DeepMind’s large-scale, multi-modal Gemini model and is designed for physical-world robot capabilities.
- Boston Dynamics is noted for its robots’ athletic physical abilities and Atlas is its new humanoid platform.
- Hyundai Motor Group is the majority shareholder of Boston Dynamics.
- Companies said the initial industrial focus will be on the automotive industry.
What to watch next
- Timetable and milestones for the joint research and any public demonstrations—not confirmed in the source.
- Details of pilot projects or early industrial deployments, particularly in automotive factories—not confirmed in the source.
- How the partners address safety, regulatory and workforce-integration challenges as trials move from lab to plant—not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Foundation model: A large-scale AI model trained on broad data that can be adapted or fine-tuned for multiple downstream tasks.
- Gemini Robotics: DeepMind’s family of robot-focused AI models derived from the multi-modal Gemini architecture, intended for sensing, reasoning and acting in physical environments.
- Humanoid robot: A robot with a body plan and actuators designed to resemble human form and mobility, often intended to operate in human environments.
- Visual-language-action model: An AI approach that links visual perception and language understanding to action planning and execution for embodied agents.
Reader FAQ
When did the partnership launch?
The collaboration was announced at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, 2026.
What will the partnership focus on?
The teams said they will integrate Gemini Robotics models with Atlas robots to enable industrial tasks, with an early emphasis on the automotive sector.
Who will conduct the research?
Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind stated that joint research will be carried out at both companies.
Will there be immediate commercial deployment?
Not confirmed in the source.
Who owns Boston Dynamics?
The source states Hyundai Motor Group is the majority shareholder of Boston Dynamics.
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Sources
- Boston Dynamics and DeepMind form new AI partnership
- Boston Dynamics's next-gen humanoid robot will have …
- Google Gemini Is Taking Control of Humanoid Robots on …
- Hyundai Motor Group Announces AI Robotics Strategy to …
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