Boston Dynamics Names Former Amazon AI Chief Rohit Prasad as New CEO

Rohit Prasad, a former Amazon Senior VP and Head Scientist for AI and Alexa, will take over as the chief executive officer of Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics starting Wednesday, the company announced on Tuesday. Prasad steps into the role following the resignation of previous CEO Robert Playter, an exit that formed part of what a Semafor headline described earlier this year as a “C-suite exodus.”

Prasad Brings AI Experience to Boston Dynamics

Prasad arrives at Boston Dynamics with a background primarily in artificial intelligence rather than robotics, though he brings extensive experience with AI software integrated into physical products. A 2024 Wall Street Journal story detailed how Prasad quickly worked to build internal AI models and enhance Alexa’s chatbot-style features after taking charge of a team of thousands following the release of ChatGPT. At Boston Dynamics, he will focus on the concept of “physical AI.” In a press release, Prasad stated, Boston Dynamics is uniquely positioned to advance Physical AI through its world-class robotics expertise.

Boston Dynamics Targets 30,000 Humanoid Robots by 2028

The leadership change occurs as Boston Dynamics aims to transition from producing viral robot videos to large-scale humanoid robot manufacturing. Earlier this year, the company showcased a humanoid robot performance at CES, presenting itself as an alternative to Tesla. However, Semafor reported in May that the company was producing only four of its Atlas humanoid robots per month.

Despite those early figures, Boston Dynamics told investors in May that it plans to manufacture 30,000 humanoid robots by 2028. Out of that total, 5,000 are planned as retail products, while the remaining 25,000 are designated to work inside the automotive factories of Hyundai and Kia. The company also stated in January that Hyundai's Savannah, Georgia automotive factory will function partly as a robot factory and a workplace for humanoid robots.

Atlas Robot Lifts 110 Pounds at High Cost

According to a Boston Dynamics press release, the Atlas robot can reach items up to 7.5 feet high and lift 110 pounds. While there is no official quote regarding production cost or final retail price, expert estimates reported by the Korea Herald place the building cost of a single Atlas unit between $130,000 and $140,000. Those same estimates suggest that once the company manufactures 50,000 units—expected sometime well after 2028—production costs will drop to $30,000 per unit.