According to Reuters, “Under no circumstances will workers welcome the plan, as the robot deployment will bring a huge employment shock.” The union accuses Hyundai of seeking to boost profits by using humanoids in its factories.

Earlier this month, Hyundai made a splash at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas when it unveiled plans to “position itself as a human-centric leader in the physical AI industry.” That plan includes the deployment of Atlas, a general-purpose robot developed by Boston Dynamics Inc., a Hyundai subsidiary.

In a press release, Hyundai outlined its vision for “human-centered automation, where people maintain full control while fostering a harmonious collaboration between humans and robots. Robots will handle labor-intensive or high-risk tasks, allowing human workers to focus on training the robots and providing oversight.

“Equipped with advanced rotational joints and sensors, Atlas can navigate complex industrial environments, perform repetitive tasks and leverage AI-driven learning to quickly adapt to new roles. Its mechanical design enables dynamic movement, ensuring it can operate in spaces traditionally suited to humans.

“The [machine] ushers in a new phase of industrial robotics. With 56 degrees of freedom, most with fully rotational joints, and human-scale hands with tactile sensing, Atlas is engineered to handle demanding tasks autonomously. It supports a range of applications, including material sequencing, assembly and machine tending, while prioritizing safety, reliability and collaboration in shared workspaces.”