Marc Raibert is a life-long roboticist, best known as the Founder and former CEO of Boston Dynamics, the influential research organization behind groundbreaking robots like BigDog and Atlas. He is a Distinguished Professor and a pioneer in dynamic robotics and artificial intelligence. Raibert's career, which includes nearly two decades in academia, has established the foundational scientific principles for highly mobile and balanced robot systems.
Raibert’s academic authority is rooted in his tenure as a professor at MIT and Carnegie Mellon University, following his PhD from MIT in 1977. At CMU, he founded the Leg Laboratory, which was pivotal in establishing the scientific basis for dynamic robots, including the development of the first self-balancing hopping robots. This work set the stage for his three decades leading Boston Dynamics, which he grew into the world's most influential pure-play robotics research organization before its acquisition by Hyundai Motor Group in 2020.
Currently, Raibert serves as the Executive Director of The AI Institute, a new research lab focused on solving the most critical problems at the intersection of robotics and AI. This transition underscores his continuous commitment to advancing the field. His work has been widely recognized; he is a Founding Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 2008. Two of his robots have been inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame.
As a speaker, Raibert is highly visible and sought after, having delivered keynote lectures at major global forums, including TED, 60 Minutes, and the WebSummit. His presentations offer an unparalleled, technical, and visionary perspective on the future of artificial intelligence, the development of autonomous systems, and the profound societal impact of robotics. He provides audiences with a comprehensive look at the innovation strategies that turned complex research into commercially viable, industry-leading products like the Spot robot.
