By Will Knight
Publication Date: 2026-01-05 21:00:00
For several decades, Boston Dynamics has pioneered the development of advanced robots, including humanoids and four-legged systems tested by the military as a way to carry supplies over rough terrain. The company was sold to Google in 2013 and was bought by SoftBank in 2017. In 2021, Hyundai acquired a controlling stake.
In recent years, advancements in motors, batteries, sensors, and other components have made it easier for startups and other companies to compete in the robotics space. More than a dozen firms in the US, including Agility Robotics, Figure AI, Apptronik, 1X, and Tesla, are working on humanoid systems. Overseas, the competition is even fiercer, as roughly 200 Chinese firms are developing humanoid systems, according to CMRA, a Chinese industry association.
Many AI firms are turning their attention to robotics, believing that AI models need a deeper understanding of the physical world to achieve humanlike intelligence. OpenAI is said to be developing humanoids. Tesla has…
