Humanoid Robot Plans Spark Historic Strike at Hyundai Auto Plant

Thousands of unionized Hyundai workers began walking off the job after negotiations broke down over plans to deploy humanoid robots, marking the first factory stoppage in the automotive industry specifically addressing such automation. Workers ended day and night shifts two hours early from July 13 to 15 and are set to stage four-hour strikes from July 20 to 22 following 15 unsuccessful rounds of talks. The labor pushback began after Hyundai unveiled Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot, a 6-foot-tall, 100-pound-lifting machine, and the company is about to make Boston Dynamics a wholly owned subsidiary.