Boston Dynamics names former Amazon Alexa executive as CEO

qz.com Oct 8, 2026

Boston Dynamics names former Amazon Alexa executive as CEO

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 8, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Boston Dynamics appointed Rohit Prasad, former Amazon Alexa senior vice president, as chief executive officer, effective Wednesday. Prasad’s 12‑year tenure at Amazon saw him build Alexa into a global consumer AI platform and lead the Amazon Nova foundation model family. He also spent nearly 14 years at Raytheon BBN Technologies developing machine‑learning solutions for government and commercial clients. Prasad will join Boston Dynamics’ board and is expected to accelerate the company’s “Physical AI” strategy, integrating advanced AI with robotics for industrial and commercial use. The move follows Hyundai Motor Group’s acquisition of the remaining SoftBank stake, valuing the firm at about $3.3 billion.

💡 Why It Matters

· Prasad’s expertise in scaling consumer AI products positions Boston Dynamics to commercialize its humanoid robots faster, potentially reshaping manufacturing automation and setting a new benchmark for AI‑powered robotics in industry.

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Boston Dynamics appoints ex-Amazon executive Rohit Prasad as CEO

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Boston Dynamics appoints former Amazon exec Rohit Prasad as new CEO

Boston Dynamics announced that former Amazon senior vice president Rohit Prasad will become its third CEO, succeeding interim leader Amanda McMaster. Prasad, who led Alexa’s AI development and Amazon’s enterprise foundation models, is expected to merge the company’s robotics expertise with advanced AI to commercialize intelligent machines at scale. The appointment follows a nine‑month vacancy after Robert Playter’s resignation and aims to accelerate the firm’s physical‑AI strategy across industrial and commercial sectors. Prasad will also join the board pending approvals.

💡 Prasad’s background in large‑scale AI productization positions Boston Dynamics to rapidly deploy robotics solutions that enhance safety and productivity, potentially reshaping automation in manufacturing and logistics.