Boston Dynamics names former Amazon AI leader Rohit Prasad as CEO
IN SHORTBoston Dynamics appointed Rohit Prasad, formerly of Amazon, as its new CEO, effective October 7, 2026. Prasad, who led Alexa and artificial general intelligence efforts at Amazon, is expected to accelerate the company's strategy of integrating advanced AI with robotics for commercial applications.
Key Numbers
30,000annual robot unit manufacturing capacity target by 2028
12 yearsPrasad's tenure at Amazon
14 yearsPrasad's tenure at Raytheon BBN Technologies
Who's Involved
Rohit Prasad
new CEO of Boston Dynamics, formerly head scientist for Alexa and AGI at Amazon
Robert Playter
former CEO of Boston Dynamics who stepped down in February 2026
Hyundai Motor Group
owner of Boston Dynamics aiming to build a robot factory by 2028
Jaehoon Chang
Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group and Chair of Boston Dynamics' Board of Directors
↳ Why This Matters
The appointment of a seasoned AI leader from Amazon to head Boston Dynamics signals a strategic push towards commercializing advanced robotics and integrating AI more deeply into industrial and enterprise applications, potentially impacting the future of automation and productivity across various sectors.
Key facts
- Boston Dynamics appointed Rohit Prasad as CEO, effective October 7, 2026.
Boston Dynamics, the humanoid robot maker owned by Hyundai Motor Group, announced on October 6, 2026, that Rohit Prasad has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 7, 2026. Prasad, a former Amazon executive, previously led efforts in Alexa and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) at Amazon, where he was instrumental in developing Alexa into a widely used consumer AI service and later led the development of the Amazon Nova foundation model family.
Prasad's appointment is intended to accelerate Boston Dynamics' "Physical AI" strategy, which aims to combine advanced AI capabilities with robotics to commercialize intelligent machines at scale. He brings extensive experience in translating AI breakthroughs into commercial products and global businesses. Prior to his 12 years at Amazon, Prasad spent nearly 14 years at Raytheon BBN Technologies, focusing on machine-learning research and its application for government and commercial use.
Prasad succeeds Robert Playter, who stepped down as CEO in February 2026. Amanda McMaster, the Chief Financial Officer, had served as interim CEO during the transition. Subject to relevant approval processes, Prasad is also expected to join Boston Dynamics' Board of Directors.
Hyundai Motor Group has set a goal to build a factory capable of manufacturing 30,000 robot units annually by 2028, with plans to deploy these robots across all of its manufacturing sites. Prasad expressed his honor in joining Boston Dynamics at a pivotal industry moment, stating his intention to build intelligent systems that create value in real-world environments and expand the reach of robotics across industries.
