Hyundai Motor plans to deploy humanoid robots.

Hyundai Motor of South Korea announced that it plans to deploy humanoid robots at its manufacturing plant in Georgia, the United States, starting in 2028. This move marks a crucial step for the automaker in automating high-risk and repetitive manufacturing tasks.

The transition of humanoid robots from the laboratory to the production workshop also signals a new stage in the artificial intelligence revolution.

On Monday, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas, Hyundai Motor Company showcased the mass-produced version of the Atlas humanoid robot developed by its subsidiary, Boston Dynamics.

According to Hyundai Motor, the Atlas humanoid robot has arms similar in size to those of humans, has tactile perception capabilities, and can carry a maximum load of 50 kilograms (110 pounds).

This robot supports autonomous operation and can adapt to industrial environment temperatures ranging from -20 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius.

Hyundai Motor did not disclose the number of robots to be deployed or the cost. However, in a statement, it said that as part of its foray into "physical artificial intelligence," its goal is to promote the use of robots at all production bases.

The automaker said that these robots will start performing parts sorting and sequencing tasks in 2028, and as safety and quality benefits are verified, the application scenarios will gradually expand.

Hyundai Motor said that by 2030, the Atlas robots are expected to enter the parts assembly process. In the long-term plan, these robots will also undertake tasks such as heavy object handling, repetitive operations, and complex processes at various production bases.

The automaker added that these robots are designed to relieve the physical burden on workers by taking on high-risk and repetitive tasks, while laying the foundation for their wide commercial application in industrial scenarios.

Notably, due to workers' concerns about the expansion of automation, the labor union of Kia, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor, called for the establishment of a special agency last year to address potential labor rights issues in the era of artificial intelligence.

Jang Jae-hoon, the vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, said at the CES that the company understands people's concerns about job losses, but someone is needed to maintain and train the robots, so additional manpower is still required.

Hyundai Motor expects that humanoid robots will become the largest segment in the physical artificial intelligence market. Physical artificial intelligence refers to artificial intelligence systems embedded in hardware that can collect real-world data and make autonomous decisions, covering areas such as robots, smart factories, and autonomous driving.

The automaker also said that it is accelerating the development of this field through cooperation with global leading artificial intelligence companies, including partnerships with NVIDIA and Google, aiming to improve safety, efficiency, and deployment capabilities in real-world environments.

Hyundai Motor is one of many companies deploying humanoid robots.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk told investors last October that the automaker plans to release the latest version of the Optimus robot in February or March this year and start mass production by the end of 2026.

Mercedes-Benz has made a strategic investment in the robotics company Apptronik and is testing robots at several of its German factories. BMW has been testing the humanoid robots of Figure AI at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but has not indicated whether it will integrate them into its production line.

This article is from the WeChat official account "Science and Technology Innovation Daily", author: Bian Chun. It is published by 36Kr with authorization.