atlas robot
TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 21: Boston Dynamics Inc.'s Atlas humanoid robot is displayed during the SoftBank Robot World 2017 on November 21, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. SoftBank showcases robots developed by their group companies including SoftBank Robotics, Boston Dynamics and Brain Corp. in the two-day event starting today. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

Atlas Robot Can Now Run: A Terminator Joke Or Here To Kill Us All?

Photo: Tomohiro Ohsumi (Getty)

I never heard of Boston Dynamics until this past weekend. Based on the unnerving work they’re doing on a futuristic robot, I’m wondering if they’re a short time away from becoming the real life Skynet.

A team of engineers has been working on the “humanoid” robot Atlas over the last several months, and developing its skills at an incredibly rapid pace. It was just last November when it turned heads by completing a backflip. Now, video was just released showing Atlas running through wooded suburbia whilst navigating dynamic outdoor terrain.

It friggin’ jumps over a log!

The entirety of the demonstration is hair-raising to say the least. Atlas looks like fake CGI straight out of Transformers.

Related: Guy Who Made A Sex Robot Is Now Ready To Get It Pregnant

Of course, the online comments started pouring in faster than you can say, “Hasta la vista, baby.” And at least half of the spectrum chimed in with witty banter, too:

altas robot comments

altas robot comments

altas robot comments

altas robot comments

altas robot comments

altas robot comments

Predictably, there are plenty of comments coming from those sharing their rational fears — What if developers mass produce these? What if they had weapons? Could these things eventually destroy mankind?!

So, where do you stand? A fun video to share with dad, or are you building a bunker?

According to New Atlas, there are little other known details outside of the footage released above by Boston Skyn … er, I mean Dynamics. The article also says the company was bought by a Japanese company called SoftBank (from Google parent company Alphabet) for an “undisclosed sum” in 2017.

You are in my prayers.


Josh Helmuth is a sports reporter in St. Louis who contributes to Mandatory.

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