January 6, 2026
From hype to yikes
Hyundai Introduces Its Next-Gen Atlas Robot at CES 2026 [video]
Hyundai’s dancing robot demo splits the crowd at CES
TLDR: Hyundai and Boston Dynamics unveiled an all-electric Atlas robot for factory work at CES 2026. Viewers split between awe at its smooth moves and snark about the dancey demo, questioning the need for legs and the price—raising real concerns about usefulness and affordability as robots enter workplaces.
Hyundai and Boston Dynamics rolled out their next‑gen, all‑electric Atlas at CES 2026, promising a robot built for factory work. The demo started with what looked like dance warm‑ups, then awkwardly cut to a “static” model—and the crowd mood snapped. As one viewer fumed, it “killed the vibe,” turning would‑be cheers into eye‑rolls. Cue instant drama: was this a showstopper or a showboating misstep?
Not everyone was turned off. Plenty were dazzled by how smoothly Atlas moves, with one commenter saying they’d never seen a robot glide like that. Others found the bend‑backwards joints both mesmerizing and creepy—fun and unnatural at the same time. The meme factory spun up fast: “Why does it need legs on a flat factory floor?” joked one, picturing Atlas hustling up bus steps to its second‑story walk‑up with a robot family. Under the humor, the serious debate kicked in.
Do we really need a humanoid to do factory jobs, or are wheels and arms better? And the price question loomed large: what will it cost, and can Hyundai Motor Group make it affordable? If Atlas is heading to real workplaces, commenters want less TikTok‑energy, more practical proof—and a price tag that doesn’t dance.
Key Points
- •PCMag published a video from CES 2026 showcasing the Atlas robot.
- •Hyundai Motor Group and Boston Dynamics jointly demonstrated the robot.
- •Atlas is described as next-generation and all-electric.
- •The robot is designed for factory work and industrial applications.
- •The video focuses on a public demonstration rather than detailed technical specifications.