Boston’s wild new robot doesn’t sleep, and it might be your co-worker soon

The era of the humanoid robot in the workplace is no longer just a sci-fi fantasy.

Later this year, Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot will clock in at a Hyundai factory.

This marks the first time this viral machine does more than backflips on YouTube.

And while Atlas’s brothers Spot, the robot dog, and Stretch, the warehouse bot, are already going real jobs, Atlas is now getting its first taste of actual manufacturing work.

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Humanoid robots in the workforce

Atlas’s creator, Boston Dynamics, was acquired by Hyundai for nearly a billion dollars in 2021.

While it is unknown what tasks Atlas will tackle, the company said that it’s built to handle physically demanding jobs.

This includes lifting heavy objects and carrying awkward loads, with strength and reliability that outperforms its human co-workers.

“The robot is going to be able to do things that are difficult for humans,” said Boston Dynamics spokesperson Kerri Neelon.

As amazing as this may seem, Atlas won’t be alone, as many companies are racing towards the same goal.

Earlier this year, Agility Robotics made the headlines when its humanoid bot, Digit, was spotted stacking shelves.

Another robotics company, Figure AI, had already shipped its Figure 02 to a paying customer late last year.

Technology giants have also seen the potential in adding robotic help to the workforce.

Apple is reportedly exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid versions for its production line.

At the same time, Meta is also planning to invest in AI-powered humanoid bots to assist with physical tasks.

A single robot can do many tasks

So what led to this sudden craze? The answer is AI.

Large language models – like ChatGPT, but for bots – are helping machines learn faster, adapt to new environments, and follow simple voice commands.

Traditional factory automation is great for repetitive, single-purpose tasks.

However, humanoid versions can do much more, like stocking shelves, cleaning, and checking inventory.

“You can imagine a grocery store with one robot that does everything from unloading pallets to mopping floors,” said Jonathan Hurst, co-founder of Agility Robotics.

Still, some hurdles remain. Teaching the machines new skills takes time, and safety remains a major concern.

And while Tesla’s Optimus has repeatedly received attention in the press, its demo raised eyebrows when it was revealed that it was, at least partly, remotely operated by a human.

Even with these setbacks, the pace of progress is hard to ignore.

While the idea of humanoid bots doing everyday jobs may have seemed far off just five years ago, it’s being tested in factories at this very moment.

Whether mopping a floor or moving parts on an assembly line, bots might soon be just another co-worker: one that doesn’t sleep.

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