In a partnership that reunites two pioneers nearly a decade after Google sold Boston Dynamics to SoftBank, the robotics leader and Google DeepMind announced a collaboration that could reshape the future of humanoid robots. The partnership, unveiled at CES 2026, aims to integrate DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics foundation models into Boston Dynamics’ production-ready Atlas robots.
The Partnership
On January 5, 2026, Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind formally announced their AI partnership designed to bring foundational intelligence to humanoid robots. This collaboration combines Boston Dynamics’ unmatched expertise in athletic robotics with DeepMind’s cutting-edge AI research.
“We are building the world’s most capable humanoid, and we knew we needed a partner that could help us establish new kinds of visual-language-action models for these complex robots,” said Alberto Rodriguez, Director of Robot Behavior for Atlas at Boston Dynamics.
Carolina Parada, Senior Director of Robotics at Google DeepMind, added: “We developed our Gemini Robotics models to bring AI into the physical world. We are excited to begin working with the Boston Dynamics team to explore what’s possible with their new Atlas robot.”
What is Gemini Robotics?
Gemini Robotics is Google DeepMind’s vision-language-action (VLA) foundation model that converts visual information and natural language instructions into motor commands. Unlike traditional robotics programming, this model enables robots to:
- Understand natural language: Respond to everyday conversational commands without technical syntax
- Reason about tasks: Break complex goals into manageable steps and adapt to novel situations
- Perform precise manipulation: Execute fine motor skills like folding origami, packing containers, and food preparation
- Explain their reasoning: Communicate what they’re doing and why, allowing users to redirect actions
The latest version, Gemini Robotics 1.5, demonstrates strong performance across multiple generalization categories:
| Category | Performance Score |
|---|---|
| In-Distribution | 0.83 |
| Instruction Generalization | 0.76 |
| Visual Generalization | 0.81 |
| Task Generalization | 0.70 |
One of the most significant advantages is multi-robot compatibility. A single model can operate across diverse robot platforms, from static bi-arm systems like ALOHA and Bi-arm Franka to humanoid robots like Apptronik’s Apollo—and now Boston Dynamics’ Atlas.
The New Atlas Robot
At CES 2026, Boston Dynamics unveiled the production version of its fully electric Atlas humanoid robot. This isn’t just a research prototype; it’s designed for real-world industrial deployment.
Key developments:
- Production begins immediately at Boston Dynamics’ Boston headquarters
- 2026 deployments fully committed with fleets shipping to Hyundai’s Robotics Metaplant Application Center (RMAC) and Google DeepMind
- Hyundai’s roadmap: Parts sequencing at scale by 2028, complex assembly tasks by 2030
- Manufacturing scale: Hyundai aims to produce up to 30,000 humanoids annually by 2028
Why This Partnership Matters
Bridging the Hardware-Software Gap
Boston Dynamics has long been the leader in robotic hardware and locomotion. Their robots can run, jump, and perform acrobatic maneuvers that seemed impossible a decade ago. However, making robots that can think and adapt to unstructured environments requires AI capabilities that complement their physical prowess.
Google DeepMind brings exactly that. Their Gemini Robotics models are designed to help robots perceive their environment, reason through problems, use tools, and interact with humans—capabilities that transform a capable machine into an intelligent assistant.
Physical AI Goes Mainstream
This partnership signals that 2026 is the year physical AI moves from research labs to factory floors. With major automotive manufacturers like Hyundai committing to humanoid deployments, we’re seeing the beginning of a fundamental shift in manufacturing.
The Return of a Relationship
There’s historical significance here too. Google acquired Boston Dynamics in 2013 but sold it to SoftBank in 2017. Hyundai then acquired Boston Dynamics in 2020. This new partnership represents a reunion of sorts, with both organizations now mature enough to collaborate on AI-powered robotics at scale.
Technical Integration
The integration focuses on developing visual-language-action models specifically designed for Atlas’s complex capabilities. Research will be conducted at both companies’ facilities, with Boston Dynamics receiving deep access to Gemini Robotics models while DeepMind receives Atlas robots for AI development and testing.
The goal is to create models that enable humanoids to:
- Complete diverse industrial tasks reliably
- Operate safely across various sectors
- Scale deployments efficiently
- Adapt to new environments without extensive retraining
What This Means for Developers
For those building robotics applications, this partnership highlights several trends:
- Foundation models are coming to robotics: Just as LLMs transformed software development, VLA models will transform robotics programming
- Natural language interfaces: Future robot programming may look more like conversation than code
- Cross-platform compatibility: Models that work across different robot hardware reduce development fragmentation
- On-device AI: With Gemini Robotics On-Device (released June 2025), even local robotic devices can run sophisticated AI
Looking Ahead
The Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind partnership represents a convergence of world-class hardware and AI research. As Atlas robots begin shipping to DeepMind and Hyundai facilities throughout 2026, we’ll see the first real-world results of this collaboration.
The implications extend beyond manufacturing. If humanoid robots can be made intelligent enough to work alongside humans in factories, the same technology could eventually extend to healthcare, logistics, construction, and domestic applications.
We’re witnessing the early stages of what many are calling the “Physical AI” era—where artificial intelligence doesn’t just process information but interacts with and transforms the physical world.
Sources
- Boston Dynamics & Google DeepMind Form New AI Partnership
- Boston Dynamics’ next-gen humanoid robot will have Google DeepMind DNA | TechCrunch
- Gemini Robotics - Google DeepMind
- Gemini Robotics brings AI into the physical world - Google DeepMind
- Boston Dynamics unveils production-ready version of Atlas robot at CES 2026 | Engadget