Humanoid robots are everywhere in the headlines.

But Aya Durbin says the real test is not whether a robot can impress people in a demo. It is whether that robot can deliver real value, positive ROI, and reliable performance inside industrial environments.

In this episode of Automated, Brian Heater speaks with Aya Durbin, Director of Product for Atlas at Boston Dynamics, about what it will actually take to bring humanoid robots out of the lab and into the workforce.

Aya explains why she considers herself both a dreamer and a pragmatist. Boston Dynamics has shown what is possible with legged robots, viral demos, and advanced mobility, but productizing Atlas means focusing on customer value, uptime, deployment, serviceability, and hard industrial work.

The conversation explores why Atlas has legs, what Boston Dynamics learned from Spot and Stretch, and why the first meaningful humanoid deployments will likely happen in structured industrial environments before anything broader.

Brian and Aya also dig into the reality behind Boston Dynamics’ famous robot videos. The backflips, gymnastics, and playful demos may look like fun, but Aya explains how many of those moments are tied to the same core technology used to train robots for real tasks.

They also discuss why Atlas is being built around AI-based tools rather than hard-coded applications, how early customers will help shape the roadmap, and why integration, IT, security, downtime, and ROI are just as important as the robot itself.

Finally, Aya outlines Boston Dynamics’ current timeline for Atlas, including customer pilots planned for 2028 and Hyundai’s commitment to building 30,000 Atlas robots a year starting in 2030.

This is a grounded look at what humanoid robotics looks like beyond the hype, and what has to happen before Atlas becomes a trusted member of the industrial workforce.

Connect with Aya Durbin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-durbin

Learn more about Boston Dynamics Atlas

https://bostondynamics.com/products/atlas/

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Alexa is entering a very different era.

For years, voice assistants were built around rules, scripted responses, and carefully designed commands. But with the rise of large language models and generative AI, Amazon had to rethink what Alexa could be and how people might use it.

In this episode of Automated, Brian Heater speaks with Daniel Rausch, Amazon’s Vice President of Alexa and Echo, about Alexa+, the company’s AI-powered evolution of its voice assistant. Daniel explains why the shift from traditional voice assistance to foundational AI assistance required a full rearchitecture of the technology behind Alexa.

The conversation explores how Alexa moved from a deterministic system to one powered by more than 70 models, why customers do not care which model is working behind the scenes, and how Amazon thinks about choosing the right AI tool for the job.

Brian and Daniel also discuss one of the biggest questions around AI assistants: trust. Daniel explains why Alexa is designed to understand that it is AI, why it should help people prioritize human relationships, and why guardrails matter as assistants become more conversational, personal, and ambient in the home.

They also get into the smart home, where Daniel says Alexa+ is changing how people interact with connected devices. Instead of needing to know the right command or app, people can speak naturally, whether they are unlocking a door, checking a Ring camera, controlling lights, or asking for help while cooking.

The conversation also covers Echo hardware, privacy controls, personality styles, language and dialect differences, AI’s impact on robotics, and why Daniel sees Amazon as an invention machine at a moment when AI is moving faster than ever.

Connect with Daniel Rausch

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrausch

Learn more about Alexa+

https://www.amazon.com/alexaplus/dp/B0CXRRF584

Learn more about Amazon Echo devices

https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=210779651011

We’d love to hear from you.

Have thoughts or guest suggestions?

Reach us at podcast@automate.org

You can find the transcript and more episodes of Automated at automated.fm

Unlock full access to Automated and explore everything automation.

Subscribe today and leave a review on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

You can also find us on:

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.