The Boston Dynamics AI Institute would be led by Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert.

Hyundai Motor Group (KRX: 005380), along with its majority-owned Boston Dynamics robotics unit, will invest $400 million to set up the Boston Dynamics AI Institute, to be led by Marc Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics. The Institute will focus on solving the most important and difficult challenges facing the creation of advanced robots. (CISION PR NEWSWIRE)

Advanced machine capabilities would be developed by the Institute using cognitive AI, athletic AI and organic hardware design, and through recruitments in the fields of AI and robotics research, and software and hardware engineering. The Institute would also partner with universities and corporate research labs to further these objectives.

“Our mission is to create future generations of advanced robots and intelligent machines that are smarter, more agile, perceptive and safer than anything that exists today,” said Marc Raibert executive director of Boston Dynamics AI Institute. “The unique structure of the Institute — top talent focused on fundamental solutions with sustained funding and excellent technical support — will help us create robots that are easier to use, more productive, able to perform a wider variety of tasks, and that are safer working with people.”

Hyundai acquired Boston Dynamics in June 2021, purchasing an 80% stake in the company from Softbank for about $880 million. Hyundai, therefore, became the third owner of the robotics startup in seven years. An MIT spin-off, it was acquired by Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) in 2013 and sold to Softbank Group (TYO: 9984) in 2017.

The Institute will be headquartered in the heart of the Kendall Square research community in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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