Former Alexa executive Rohit Prasad appointed CEO of Boston Dynamics

Rohit Prasad, the former senior-vice president and head scientist for Alexa and artificial general intelligence at Amazon, has been appointed as the new CEO of Boston Dynamics. Prasad, who has a rich history in the artificial intelligence sector, will focus on accelerating the organization's physical AI strategy by combining robotics and advanced AI capabilities.

His appointment comes after Robert Playter, who held the position for six years, leaving the role. Prasad's 12-year tenure at Amazon included key roles in building Alexa, the company's virtual assistant, and leading the development of the Amazon Nova foundation model family used by enterprises. Prior to Amazon, Prasad spent nearly 14 years at Raytheon, acquiring BBN Technologies and leading machine-learning research for US government and commercial applications.

Boston Dynamics expects Prasad to join the company's board of directors. In his statement, Prasad expressed his honor in joining the company at a crucial moment for the industry. "By bringing together advanced AI and robotics, we can build intelligent systems that create meaningful value in real-world environments, expand the reach of robotics across industries and shape the next era of physical AI."

Hyundai is reportedly planning to acquire SoftBank Group Corp's remaining stake in Boston Dynamics to secure full ownership of the robotics company. Jaehoon Chang, Hyundai's vice-chair and former Boston Dynamics board chair, welcomed Prasad to the team, highlighting the company's industry-leading robotics, Prasad's ability to turn AI into global-scale products, and Hyundai's capabilities in modern manufacturing, logistics, and mobility.