Boston Dynamics debuted its next-generation Atlas humanoid robot at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday. 

"The rapid advancements in AI over the past few years are the piece that we needed, and that moment is finally here," said Zachary Jackowski, vice president and general manager of Atlas at Boston Dynamics, which is majority owned by Hyundai.

The company said that it aims to build a factory capable of manufacturing 30,000 robot units annually by 2028. It did not disclose the cost of the robots but said in a statement it aims to roll out adoption across all of its manufacturing sites as part of a push into "physical AI."

The robots will initially carry out parts sequencing tasks from 2028, with applications expanding gradually as safety and quality benefits are validated, it said.

Hyundai said Atlas robots were expected to move into component assembly by 2030 with a longer-term plan to take on tasks involving heavy loads, repetitive motions and complex operations across production sites.

The robots are designed to reduce physical strain on workers by taking on higher-risk and repetitive tasks, laying the groundwork for broader commercial use in industrial settings, it added.

The company expects humanoid robots to become the largest segment of the physical artificial intelligence market, which refers to AI systems embedded in hardware that collect real-world data and make autonomous decisions, spanning areas such as robotics, smart factories and autonomous driving.

(With input from Reuters)