Rohit Prasad, the former Amazon Senior Vice President and Head Scientist for AI and Alexa, is taking over as the chief executive officer of Boston Dynamics. The Hyundai-owned robotics firm announced the leadership transition on Tuesday, with Prasad stepping into the role immediately. During his tenure at Amazon, Prasad oversaw thousands of employees and pushed internal AI model development following the industry-wide shift sparked by generative AI tools.
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Boston Dynamics as it looks to transition from a viral video sensation into a high-volume manufacturing operation. Earlier this year, the company showcased its latest humanoid robot platform at CES, presenting a measured alternative to competing market claims. However, the hardware transition has faced hurdles, including reports of a C-suite exodus and low initial production rates, with output hovering around four Atlas units per month earlier this year.
Despite manufacturing bottlenecks, the company outlined aggressive targets for investors, projecting the production of 30,000 humanoid robots by 2028. Out of that total, 25,000 units are slated for deployment inside Hyundai and Kia automotive factories, including a planned manufacturing facility in Savannah, Georgia. Current specifications for the Atlas robot allow it to reach heights of 7.5 feet and lift up to 110 pounds.
Industry estimates place the current cost of building a single Atlas unit between $130,000 and $140,000, though projections suggest costs could drop significantly once production scales past 50,000 units well after 2028. While Prasad's professional background is rooted heavily in artificial intelligence rather than traditional mechanical engineering, Boston Dynamics emphasized his experience integrating software into physical consumer and enterprise products under the banner of physical AI.
Ex-Amazon AI Chief Rohit Prasad Takes Over as Boston Dynamics CEO
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