Hyundai unveils Atlas humanoid robot to drive factory automation at US plants

Boston Dynamics Debuts Atlas Humanoid Robot at CES

LAS VEGAS — Boston Dynamics, the robotics firm owned by Hyundai, gave its Atlas humanoid robot its first public demonstration at the CES technology trade show, intensifying competition with Tesla and other rivals to develop functional, human-like machines.

During the demonstration, the Atlas robot successfully stood up and walked across the stage for several minutes. While an engineer operated the robot remotely for the presentation, the company stated that the final production model will operate autonomously.

The event opened with a synchronized dance performed by the company’s quadruped robots, known as Spot.

Hyundai plans to deploy the production version of Atlas by 2028 at its electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Georgia, where the robots will assist with automotive assembly.

The automaker also announced a partnership with Google’s DeepMind to provide artificial intelligence technology for Boston Dynamics' robots. Hyundai acquired Boston Dynamics from SoftBank in 2021.

Boston Dynamics’ live demonstration of its Atlas robot at CES marks a decisive shift from laboratory spectacle to commercial readiness. By opting for a live showcase rather than the highly curated, pre-edited footage favored by its competitors, the company is signaling a newfound confidence in its hardware’s maturity and its immediate viability for industrial applications.

The strategic synergy with Google’s DeepMind serves as the critical catalyst here. While Boston Dynamics provides the world-class mechanical engineering—essentially the "body" of the machine—DeepMind provides the sophisticated AI "brain." This partnership is expected to accelerate the transition from rote, pre-programmed movements to adaptive autonomy, allowing robots to navigate and execute complex tasks in unpredictable real-world environments.

However, the most significant takeaway for policy observers is the calculated link between robotics deployment and labor volatility. The decision to trial Atlas at Hyundai’s Georgia manufacturing facility is far from coincidental. That specific site was the target of a high-profile federal immigration raid last year, an event that underscored the fragility of supply chains dependent on migrant labor.

From a strategic standpoint, Hyundai’s investment in humanoid robotics is a long-term hedge against the geopolitical and regulatory risks inherent in the modern workforce. By integrating advanced automation, the company is seeking to insulate its production lines from labor shortages and the unpredictable shifts in federal immigration enforcement. In this context, Atlas is not just a technological marvel; it is a tool for industrial stabilization in an era of tightening labor markets.

The rise of humanoid robots in manual labor, though currently centered in large-scale manufacturing, represents a long-term trend that could fundamentally reshape the job market for immigrant communities. While the immediate impact on Vietnamese-American small businesses—from our phở restaurants to the nail salon industry—remains negligible, this shift signals a future where automation may reduce the demand for the entry-level roles that many new arrivals rely on. For those joining the community via F2B visas or other immigration pathways, the automation of manual tasks could eventually transform the economic landscape of Little Saigons across the country, potentially impacting everything from local employment to the stability of remittances sent back home.