Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind have announced an AI research partnership, unveiled at CES 2026, to integrate large-scale foundation models into humanoid robots. The collaboration will pair Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics AI models with Boston Dynamics' next-generation Atlas platform, with joint research using a new fleet of Atlas robots expected to begin later this year.
Key takeaways
- Focus on manufacturing applications, including automotive production, to expand the range of industrial tasks humanoids can perform.
- Explores visual-language-action models for complex, real-world robotic systems.
- Combines Boston Dynamics' expertise in dynamic robots with Google DeepMind's multimodal Gemini architecture for perception, reasoning, and tool use.
The partnership was highlighted during a CES media presentation by Hyundai Motor Group, Boston Dynamics' majority shareholder. Boston Dynamics only announced plans to commercialize a humanoid platform in 2024, citing advances in AI training as a key enabler. Google DeepMind's robotics models are designed to support various robot form factors, aiming to scale robots safely and efficiently across industries.
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2026-01-25 · “Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind announce AI partnership focused on humanoid robots”