Hyundai reportedly looking to take total control of robotics giant Boston Dynamics - Engadget

It’s planning to accelerate the commercialization of Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot, Bloomberg says. Hyundai is preparing to acquire Softbank's remaining stake on Boston Dynamics, according to Bloomberg. The Korean automaker purchased an 80 percent stake on the robotics company back in 2020, while Softbank retained a 20 percent stake. Hyundai is now reportedly reviewing its contractual rights and obligations before snapping up Softbank's remaining 9.9 percent stake valued roughly at $325 million. If the deal pushes through, Hyundai will have full ownership of Boston Dynamics. As Bloomberg notes, the acquisition could be a massive windfall for Hyundai, as companies move towards the development of physical AI products. If and when it gets full control of Boston Dynamics, Hyundai intends to build an end-to-end AI robotics chain. "Through this integrated approach, the group aims to accelerate the development, validation and commercialization of Physical AI technologies and robotics solutions," Hyundai told Bloomberg in a statement. The company's plans center around Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot. At CES earlier this year, the robotics firm presented a production-ready ver