The Boston Dynamics AI Institute will be based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will focus on delivering advances in AI and robotics technology.
The new centre will be run in partnership with Boston Dynamics, which Hyundai Motor Group acquired last year and will be led by Boston Dynamics’ founder, Marc Raibert.
Hyundai Motor will invest $211.9mn, Kia $127.1mn and component company Hyundai Mobis $85mn.
According to the Institute it will, “work on solving the most important and difficult challenges facing the creation of advanced robots.”
To that end, it aims to recruit elite talent across AI, robotics, computing, machine learning and engineering and it’ hoped that the location of the centre, in the heart of the Kendall Square research community in Cambridge, will assist with this.
“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,” Raibert said.
As well as the creation of a $5.5bn electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility near Savannah, Georgia, Hyundai has also committed $5 billion for development work in robotics, AI, advanced air mobility and autonomous driving.
