Boston Dynamics names former Amazon Alexa leader Rohit Prasad as CEO
In brief
- Boston Dynamics announced Rohit Prasad as CEO on October 6, effective October 7, per Crypto Briefing.
- Prasad led Alexa development at Amazon for over 12 years and helped create Amazon Nova.
- Prasad's board seat at the Hyundai-owned robotics firm remains pending approval.
- Amanda McMaster served as interim CEO after Robert Playter left in February 2026.
An AI career, not a hardware one
Prasad's background runs through machine learning. According to Crypto Briefing's report, he played a significant role in creating the Amazon Nova foundation model family during his time at Amazon. Before that, he spent nearly 14 years working on machine learning at Raytheon BBN Technologies.
He's also expected to join the Boston Dynamics board. That seat is pending approval, though, so it isn't confirmed yet.
The top job hasn't had a permanent occupant for months. Robert Playter left the CEO role in February 2026, the report said, and Amanda McMaster stepped in as interim CEO after his departure.
Hyundai's robotics unit
Boston Dynamics has been a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group since the automaker acquired it in 2021 (Hyundai became majority owner in the deal). The company develops and sells three main robot families: Spot, the four-legged quadruped; Stretch, a logistics system built for moving boxes; and Atlas, its humanoid.
Spot and Stretch are already in commercial use, per the report.
Atlas is the bigger bet. Hyundai plans to begin deploying Atlas units in 2028 at its facility in Georgia, Crypto Briefing reported, with plans calling for manufacturing up to 30,000 humanoids a year.
The Physical AI pitch
By the company's own framing, its next phase is about what it calls "Physical AI," a concept that combines advanced artificial intelligence with robotic machines. The idea is to pair Boston Dynamics hardware with AI and build applications that can scale across industries, with logistics and manufacturing as the priorities.
Commercialization sits at the center of Prasad's mandate.
It's a notable hire for a company whose name has long been tied to viral robot videos. Prasad arrives with more than two decades of machine learning work across Raytheon BBN and Amazon, and he'll now be steering a hardware business that its owner wants deploying humanoids on a factory floor within a couple of years.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Rohit Prasad, the new Boston Dynamics CEO?
According to Crypto Briefing, Prasad spent over 12 years leading Alexa development at Amazon and played a significant role in creating the Amazon Nova foundation model family. Before Amazon, he spent nearly 14 years working on machine learning at Raytheon BBN Technologies.
Who ran Boston Dynamics before Rohit Prasad?
Robert Playter left the CEO role in February 2026, Crypto Briefing reported. Amanda McMaster stepped in as interim CEO after his departure, and Prasad's appointment takes effect October 7, 2026.
What are Hyundai's plans for the Atlas humanoid robot?
Hyundai plans to begin deploying Atlas units in 2028 at its facility in Georgia, according to Crypto Briefing, with plans calling for manufacturing up to 30,000 humanoids a year. Hyundai has owned Boston Dynamics since acquiring it in 2021.
