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Boston Dynamics Names Amazon AI Veteran Rohit Prasad CEO
Confirmed
In Short: Boston Dynamics, owned by Hyundai Motor Group, has appointed former Amazon executive Rohit Prasad as its new CEO.
Boston Dynamics, the robotics company owned by Hyundai Motor Group, has appointed former Amazon executive Rohit Prasad as its new CEO, effective October 7, 2026. Prasad will lead the company as it focuses on combining artificial intelligence with robotics and expanding the commercial use of Physical AI.
Prasad’s appointment is intended to accelerate the integration of AI and robotics, and expand Physical AI applications across industries. He brings extensive experience in developing and commercializing AI technologies, having spent nearly 14 years at Raytheon BBN Technologies and 12 years at Amazon.
Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group and Chair of the Board of Directors at Boston Dynamics, said, “Boston Dynamics’ industry-leading robotics, Rohit’s proven ability to turn AI into products at global scale, and Hyundai Motor Group’s modern manufacturing, logistics, and mobility capabilities give us a powerful foundation to build and scale Physical AI.”
Prasad will focus on advancing Boston Dynamics’ Physical AI strategy by bringing together its robotics capabilities with advanced AI. He will also aim to commercialize intelligent robotic systems, with an emphasis on improving safety, productivity, and operational efficiency across industrial and commercial environments.
During his tenure at Amazon, Prasad was instrumental in building Alexa from its earliest days into a pioneering large-scale consumer AI service. He also led the development of Amazon Nova, the company’s family of foundation models used by enterprises.
Prasad’s move to Boston Dynamics is expected to strengthen the company’s push into physical AI, which combines advanced AI with robotics to enable machines to operate more autonomously and adapt to real-world environments. The company is preparing to move its humanoid robots beyond experimental testing and toward large-scale industrial deployment.
Boston Dynamics is owned by Hyundai Motor Group, which has been expanding its focus on robotics and automation. The company plans to invest $100 million to build an advanced robotics and artificial intelligence center near its Waltham, Massachusetts, headquarters.
Prasad will take over from Chief Financial Officer Amanda McMaster, who served as interim CEO after Robert Playter stepped down in February. Prasad’s appointment is expected to further the company’s efforts to commercialize intelligent machines at scale.
What this adds
Prasad’s departure from Amazon is a personnel change at a Hyundai-owned subsidiary, not an Amazon corporate event.
Boston Dynamics has passed through three owners since its 1992 founding: Google X between 2013 and 2017, SoftBank from 2017 to 2020, and Hyundai Motor Group since 2020.
What's confirmed
- Before joining Amazon, Prasad spent nearly 14 years at Raytheon BBN Technologies, where he led machine-learning research and its application for US government and commercial use.
- Boston Dynamics has appointed former Amazon executive Rohit Prasad as its Chief Executive Officer, with the appointment effective October 7, 2026.
- Prasad joins Boston Dynamics after serving as Senior Vice President and Head Scientist for Alexa and Artificial General Intelligence at Amazon.
- Prasad succeeds Robert Playter, who stepped down as CEO in February.
- According to Boston Dynamics, as part of the team, Prasad will accelerate the organisation’s physical AI strategy through the combination of robotics and advanced AI capabilities, with the wider goal of commercialising intelligent machines at scale.
- It is also expected that Prasad will join the company’s board of directors.
- At Boston Dynamics, Prasad will focus on commercializing intelligent robotic systems, with an emphasis on improving safety, productivity, and operational efficiency across industrial and commercial environments, according to the company.
What's still developing
- Reportedly, Hyundai is moving to acquire SoftBank Group Corp’s remaining stake in Boston Dynamics as a means of securing full ownership of the robotics company.
- Prasad will take over the role from Robert Playter, who held the position for six years and is only the second person to have been in the role in the organisation’s more than 30 year history.
- “Boston Dynamics is uniquely positioned to advance physical AI through its world-class robotics expertise,” stated Prasad.
- Boston Dynamics has passed through three owners since its 1992 founding: Google X between 2013 and 2017, SoftBank from 2017 to 2020, and Hyundai Motor Group since 2020, which still controls the firm.
- Prasad’s departure is a personnel change at a Hyundai-owned subsidiary, not an Amazon corporate event, and the group’s shares traded at $257.25, up 0.68% over 24 hours, a move in line with ordinary daily noise rather than any reaction to the Boston Dynamics news.