Boston Dynamics names Rohit Prasad chief executive

Boston Dynamics has named Rohit Prasad chief executive from 7 October, and says he will accelerate its Physical AI strategy. The appointment places an executive with experience in Alexa and foundation models at the head of a robotics company developing Atlas. Boston Dynamics has also said Prasad is expected to join its board, subject to approval.

The company’s statement sets out an executive appointment and a strategic priority, rather than a regulatory decision. There is no regulator, legal proceeding or formal legal stage identified in the available information. The company’s stated position is that Prasad will speed up its Physical AI work, which combines robots and advanced AI for commercial deployment.

Prasad brings Alexa and model experience

Before joining Boston Dynamics, Prasad was senior vice president and head scientist for Alexa and artificial general intelligence at Amazon. Boston Dynamics said he helped build Alexa from its earliest days during 12 years at Amazon. More recently, he led development of Nova foundation models, according to the company.

Before Amazon, Prasad spent nearly 14 years at Raytheon BBN Technologies, where he led machine-learning research. The company’s account therefore connects his appointment with work across voice products, foundation models and machine learning. It does not specify which teams, products or research programmes he will oversee at Boston Dynamics.

Hyundai has outlined Atlas plans

Hyundai Motor Group took majority ownership of Boston Dynamics in 2021 and is moving to buy SoftBank’s remaining stake, Bloomberg reported. Hyundai said earlier this year that it plans to use Atlas at its plant in Georgia from 2028. Atlas is an electric humanoid robot that remains in development.

Hyundai has also said it plans capacity to build up to 30,000 humanoid robots a year. Bloomberg reported that expected early tasks include welding and logistics, with component assembly planned by 2030. Those are plans and reported expectations; the available material does not establish that the uses or production capacity have been reached.

Board role and execution remain open

Jaehoon Chang, vice chair of Hyundai Motor Group and chair of the Boston Dynamics board, welcomed Prasad’s appointment and described the company’s direction as real-world Physical AI. The company has not detailed an implementation timetable for its strategy or explained how responsibilities will be divided across its products. Its statement says board membership for Prasad remains subject to approval.

Questions remain about the timing of that approval, the practical milestones for the strategy and how Atlas development will progress. Boston Dynamics’ statement is the source for the appointment and the rationale it gave; Bloomberg and GeekWire are cited for other reported context. The next concrete developments to follow are Prasad’s board status and updates on the company’s stated robotics plans.