For better or worse, CES 2026 is already shaping up to be a big year for humanoid robots. Chinese company Agibot showed up with two: the roughly human-sized A2 and the slightly smaller X2, both of which were displaying their surprisingly impressive dancing abilities.

Agibot just released a robot dog, a factory-worker humanoid robot on wheels, a "white-collar" humanoid robot for reception-like duties, and a playful dancing robot.

For several decades, Boston Dynamics has pioneered the development of advanced robots, including humanoids and four-legged systems tested by the military as a way to carry supplies over rough terrain. The company was sold to Google in 2013 and bought by SoftBank in 2017. In 2021, Hyundai acquired a controlling stake.

Asked whether building a robot that functions similarly to a human—only stronger, more heat resistant and less prone to fatigue—could put human jobs at risk, Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter said it likely will.

Engineers and computer scientists are developing AI-powered robots that look and act human. Boston Dynamics invited 60 Minutes to watch its humanoid, Atlas, learn how to work at a Hyundai factory.

The partnership, which was announced during the Hyundai press conference at CES 2026, is centered on robotics research that will use Google DeepMind’s AI foundation models. Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot Atlas will be the first test case, according to Carolina Parada, senior director of robotics at Google DeepMind.

With the age of humanoids upon us, Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted that his robots will curb crime, eliminate poverty and do surgery.

We're set to see even more humanoid robots take their places in our workplaces and homes over the coming years

Hyundai admits humanoid robots in car factories will change the nature of work—but don't expect much of an impact on prices.