Geopolitics

Boston Dynamics interim CEO says US should not allow Chinese humanoid robots

All-In Podcast · The $1/Hour Robot Is Coming: Four Industry Leaders Explain What’s Next · July 29, 2026

All-In Podcast

The $1/Hour Robot Is Coming: Four Industry Leaders Explain What’s Next

"It's not safe. Right. We've already, we've already heard about leaks that are happening with some of the quadrupeds that you're seeing in the United States and being backchanneled back to China."

Amanda McMaster, interim CEO of Boston Dynamics, says she does not believe humanoid robotics from China should be allowed in the United States, citing safety and alleged data leakage concerns involving quadruped robots. She calls for a "national robotic strategy" and for manufacturing to be located in the US or allied countries, arguing robotics should not repeat what she describes as US vulnerability in semiconductors.

About this episode

Jason Calacanis hosts a conference-recorded set of interviews in Paris with leaders in industrial and humanoid robotics. Anybotics CEO Dr Peter Funkhouser describes the company’s four-legged inspection robots as sensor-heavy platforms aimed at preventing costly downtime in critical infrastructure, and says the firm has built a unit designed for explosive atmospheres where sparking must be avoided. He also says Anybotics sources 0% of its robot from China and argues the company is not pursuing military work, while acknowledging wider European responsibility for defence technologies.

1X founder and CEO Bernt Børnich discusses the company’s Neo humanoid, saying initial shipments to a limited number of customers will begin in 2026 and that early units may still involve teleoperation or guidance. He says 1X intends to open Neo as a platform, including third-party “skills” and the ability to run external AI models, arguing that no single general robotics model yet solves all tasks. Børnich also makes an aggressive timeline prediction, saying a robotics “hard take-off” could occur within a decade and that his “current bet” is three years.

Boston Dynamics interim CEO Amanda McMaster says the company has moved beyond research towards deployment, citing more than 500 customers across 46 countries for its Spot quadruped and outlining pricing from about $100,000 to $300,000 depending on configuration and services. She argues the US should not allow Chinese humanoid robots, alleging data leakage via some quadrupeds. Agility Robotics co-founder Prof Jonathan Hurst says safety certification for human-robot co-working is a major hurdle and describes Digit V5 as a step towards operating without physical barriers in warehouses.

Key takeaways

Anybotics CEO says the firm built an inspection robot designed for explosive atmospheres where sparks are unacceptable.
1X CEO says Neo will start shipping to a limited number of customers in 2026, with early-adopter expectations.
1X says it plans to make Neo a platform, including third-party “skills” and the ability to run outside AI models.
1X CEO predicts a robotics “hard take-off” within a decade, and says his “current bet” is three years.
Boston Dynamics interim CEO says Spot has over 500 customers in 46 countries and argues the US should not allow Chinese humanoid robots, citing alleged data leaks.