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Hyundai Motor Brings Atlas Humanoid Robot to FIFA World Cup 2026™ in First-Ever Live Match Environment Robotics Integration

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Hyundai Motor showcases Boston Dynamics’ Atlas® in historic FIFA World Cup 2026™ deployment, demonstrating real-world robotics capabilities on one of sport’s biggest stagesFirst-ever integration of a humanoid robot into FIFA World Cup™ live match environment showcases Hyundai Motor Group and Boston Dynamics’ leadership in roboticsMulti-channel storytelling highlights the innovation behind Atlas’ historic FIFA World Cup appearance

SEOUL, South Korea and EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., July 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Motor Company today integrated Atlas®, an advanced humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, into FIFA World Cup 2026™ during the Round of 16 match at New York/New Jersey Stadium. As the Official Robotics Partner of the tournament, Hyundai Motor delivered the first-ever robotics-powered halftime activation on football’s biggest stage, bringing advanced robotics technology to a live global audience.

Hyundai Brings Atlas Humanoid Robot to FIFA World Cup 2026™ in First-Ever Live Match Environment Robotics Integration

The moment underscores Hyundai Motor Group’s growing leadership in robotics and its commitment to advancing human-centered innovation through experiences that connect technology with people in meaningful ways.

Why Is This a Milestone for Robotics and Global Sport?

The activation brought advanced robotics to one of the world’s largest sporting platforms, demonstrating how the future technology can operate within the fast-paced environment of a live FIFA World Cup match.

The performance marked two significant milestones:

First public demonstration of the real-world movement capabilities of the production version of Atlas, first introduced at CES 2026First-ever integration of a humanoid robot into FIFA World Cup live match environment

By bringing robotics into a live sporting environment, Hyundai Motor is advancing its “Progress for Humanity” vision while demonstrating how robotics innovation can create meaningful experiences for people around the world.

“As part of Hyundai’s ‘Next Starts Now’ campaign, we wanted Atlas’s performance on the world’s biggest stage to demonstrate that the future isn’t something we imagine — it starts now. At Hyundai, we are committed to developing human-centered innovation that integrates seamlessly into everyday life, and to presenting a new vision of future mobility expanded through robotics — showing that robotics can be a trusted partner in humanity’s progress through diverse and creative brand experiences.” – Sungwon Jee, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer, Hyundai Motor Company

What Happened During the Halftime Activation?

At halftime, Atlas emerged from the player tunnel, capturing the crowd’s attention with a sequence of iconic goal celebrations inspired by some of the world’s most celebrated footballers, including Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Matheus Cunha, and Son Heung-min. The performance heightened the stadium atmosphere while underscoring Atlas’ advanced mobility and expressive capabilities.

Following the performance, Atlas delivered the ceremonial match ball to the referee with its signature precision and control, marking the start of the second half. The activation unfolded live before a global audience, showcasing Atlas’ ability to execute highly coordinated movements and operate reliably within the dynamic, real-world environment of a major international sporting event.

How Did Atlas Learn to Demonstrate Football-Inspired Movements Live?

Atlas’ halftime performance was powered by several core robotics capabilities that enable advanced movement and real-world interaction:

Retargeting Technology – Allows Atlas to translate and adapt human movements, including football celebrations and gestures, to its own robotic form.Reinforcement Learning – Uses thousands of simulations to train and refine movements before deployment.Whole-Body Control – Coordinates movement across the robot’s entire body, enabling fluid, balanced and dynamic motion.

Together, these capabilities allow Atlas to perform increasingly sophisticated tasks while adapting to changing conditions and environments.

“At Boston Dynamics we have always taken inspiration from human athletic feats like gymnastics, dancing, parkour and now football to push forward the frontier of what robots can do in a way that connects with people. Working with Hyundai Motor group and FIFA to create such a unique moment for fans was an exciting challenge for our team. The way we trained Atlas to perform these fun movements at the match is similar to how we teach the robot to take on real-world industrial applications. It’s a great way to introduce people everywhere to the incredible potential of today’s AI-enabled robots.” – Alberto Rodriguez, Director of Robotics Behavior, Boston Dynamics

How Does This Connect to Hyundai Motor’s Broader “Next Starts Now” Campaign?

The halftime activation builds on Hyundai Motor’s global “Next Starts Now” campaign, which connects communities through football while inspiring the next generation of players, fans and innovators. The integration of Atlas in live match environment translates conceptual demonstrations into a live, real-world moment on the FIFA World Cup stage and represents the culmination of Hyundai Motor’s robotics storytelling—demonstrating how advanced robotics technology can move beyond controlled environments to operate in dynamic settings and reinforcing that future innovation can be experienced today.

The moment also extends storytelling introduced through Hyundai Motor’s School of Football content series, where Atlas learned football-inspired movements including the “Ghost Rabona” using the same robotics technologies showcased on the FIFA World Cup stage.

Behind-the-scenes content and additional storytelling from the activation will continue across Hyundai Motor’s owned and earned channels in the weeks following the event.

Additionally, Hyundai Motor and BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions will release “The Training Ground,” a documentary-style advertisement feature film showcasing the technical preparation of Atlas’ World Cup activities. Produced in both a 3.5-minute full-length version and a 30-second cutdown, the film will be released on July 7 across Hyundai Motor’s social channels.

What’s Next for Robotics at Hyundai Motor Group?

The FIFA World Cup activation represents Hyundai Motor Group’s most visible demonstration yet of its robotics ambitions, showcasing advanced robotics on one of the world’s largest global stages.

As Hyundai Motor Group continues to invest in robotics, autonomous systems and human-centered innovation, it remains focused on exploring how these technologies can create meaningful real-world experiences and help shape a more connected future.

By bringing together sport, technology and storytelling at FIFA World Cup 2026™, Hyundai Motor continues to advance its “Progress for Humanity” vision while demonstrating how innovation can connect with people in engaging and meaningful ways.

About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision of ‘Progress for Humanity,’ Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation beyond mobility through advanced robotics and physical AI. The company invests in new technologies to bring about revolutionary solutions while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai Motor will continue its commitment to carbon reduction as a full lineup provider with industry-leading ICE, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.

More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at:
https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/ or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai

Follow our Hyundai Global Newsroom Instagram channel @hyundai_mediahub

Visit the Hyundai Media_Hub for more content

Disclaimer: Hyundai Motor Company believes the information contained herein to be accurate at the time of release. However, the company may upload new or updated information if required and assumes that it is not liable for the accuracy of any information interpreted and used by the reader.

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SOURCE Hyundai Motor Company

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He Sold Everything and Moved to Colombia for Her. Then Built the Translator They Needed and Named It After Her.

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Nayerly, a patent-pending iPhone app, is the first translator both people can talk over at once. Fully offline, 22 languages.

EDMONDS, Wash., Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Michael Wilson sold everything he owned and left the US for Colombia to be with the woman he loved. They did not share a language.

Every translator they tried forced them to take turns: one speaks, stops, waits for playback, and only then can the other answer. It worked. It also turned every conversation into a transaction.

So he built his own, alone, and named it after her. Nayerly is now on the App Store.

Nayerly is full duplex, meaning it listens and speaks at the same time instead of taking turns. The app keeps listening while it is speaking, so you can talk over the translation, and it keeps listening when more than one person talks, so two people can talk over each other and it still works. No phone passed back and forth. It works like a personal interpreter sitting between you.

“Every other translator is a walkie-talkie. You talk, you stop, you wait,” Wilson said. “I built this so I could speak better with someone I love. That is the only way you make a real connection. It works so well you forget you are using it and start talking over each other.”

Everything runs on the device. All 22 language models download during setup, so it works with no Wi-Fi and no signal – on a plane, abroad, off the grid – and no audio ever leaves the phone. Hands-free works with any AirPods, not just the premium ones.

Key features:

– Full duplex: listens and speaks at the same time, so you can talk over the translation and over each other
– 100% offline in 22 languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Ukrainian
– Hands-free with any AirPods
– Private by design: audio is never recorded or stored
– Free to download, 10 minutes of translation daily

Unlimited use is $1.99 per month during launch, billed annually. A one-time lifetime option includes Apple Family Sharing. New languages will be added in future updates at no additional cost to existing users.

Videos of Wilson and his girlfriend using Nayerly in Colombia, both speaking at once in English and Spanish, are on Instagram at instagram.com/nayerlyapp and TikTok at tiktok.com/@nayerlyapp.

Availability

On the App Store for iPhone now: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6762064110
More: https://nayerly.com 

About Nayerly
Nayerly is an independent iPhone app built alone by Michael Wilson and named for the woman he built it for. It exists so two people without a shared language can just talk.

Media Contact
Michael Wilson
Founder, Nayerly
421311@email4pr.com
425-220-5237

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/he-sold-everything-and-moved-to-colombia-for-her-then-built-the-translator-they-needed-and-named-it-after-her-302859030.html

SOURCE Nayerly

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Eleven GovTech Startups Named to Pitch at State of GovTech 2026

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Companies from across the country will pitch live to government and investor judges in Montgomery County, Maryland, September 9–10. Registration is free for government employees.

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CivStart today announced the eleven startups selected to pitch at State of GovTech 2026, the organization’s seventh annual national govtech summit, taking place September 9–10 at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The selected companies span permitting, public safety, emergency management, grant administration, constituent services, and civic infrastructure finance. They will pitch live on the main stage to a judging panel drawn from local government, county technology leadership, and the govtech investment community.

The 2026 Startup Cohort

Appellate  (Bentonville, AR) — system of record for police towing and vehicle custodyAyla  (Washington, D.C.) — public-sector recruiting on a live government labor-market data engineCODICE  (Washington, D.C.) — no-code permitting, licensing, and inspections platformGostly  (Westminster, MD) — real-time command center for urban infrastructureGrantwell  (Los Angeles, CA) — AI grant management across the full lifecycleGreen Stream Technologies (Wake Forest, NC) — flood and weather early warning systemsGovstream  (Seattle, WA) — AI-driven permitting intakeLabrynth  (US, Australia, EU, UK) — AI-native regulatory intelligence for permittingManyBond — crowdfinancing for community-supported local investmentReadyly  (Connecticut) — agentic AI resolving resident inquiries across every channelSamora AI  (Bellevue, WA) — multilingual voice AI for citizen information lines

The Judging Panel

Hillary Orr, Deputy Director of Transportation, City of Alexandria, Virginia Rita Reynolds, Director of Public Sector, CAI Thao Hill, Co-Founder and CEO, Govinity Tom Spenger, CEO, SOVRA Eyal Feder-Levy, CEO, Zencity

The pitch competition is one part of a two-day agenda built around working sessions rather than passive programming. Attendees draft AI use policies, run live cybersecurity breach simulations, and bring unresolved problems from their own jurisdictions to work through with peers.

State of GovTech 2026 is expected to draw more than 200 attendees, split roughly evenly between public sector leaders and the entrepreneurs, investors, and industry practitioners who serve them. The venue sits directly on the Washington Metro, and registration is free for government employees. Full agenda and registration at civstart.com/sogt26.

About CivStart

CivStart is a govtech organization connecting government leaders with the technology solutions and entrepreneurs solving public sector challenges. Through its accelerator programs, industry events, and products including Clarity and GovFit, CivStart helps state and local governments define their challenges and find partners equipped to solve them. State of GovTech is CivStart’s flagship annual summit, now in its seventh year. Learn more at civstart.com.

Media Contact:

Nick Lyell

Co-Founder & COO

421351@email4pr.com | 608.234.2166

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eleven-govtech-startups-named-to-pitch-at-state-of-govtech-2026-302859026.html

SOURCE CivStart

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Goodix Unveils New Generation Touch Screen Controllers for Medium and Large Displays

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SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Goodix has launched its new-generation GT9976 series of high-performance touch screen controllers for medium and large displays, targeting premium flexible OLED tablets, foldable smartphone main screens, and other smart devices. Delivering major upgrades in gaming control, touch performance in challenging environments, and active stylus support, the series enables device makers to create differentiated large-screen products for gaming, work, and learning.

As an early commercial deployment of the series, Lenovo’s latest Legion Y700 Wuji gaming flagship tablet and Tab Pen Pro 2 integrate Goodix’s innovative portfolio, including the GT9976N touch screen controller, an active stylus driver chip, and an ultra-narrow side-key capacitive fingerprint sensor, to deliver a more responsive and immersive user experience.

Faster Response for Smoother Large-Screen Interaction

High-refresh-rate displays used in competitive gaming place greater demands on touch response and data processing. The GT9976 series features Goodix’s proprietary full-screen parallel sensing architecture, which achieves a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) within a shorter scan time — significantly accelerating finger-signal capture and processing efficiency.

Supporting 7- to 9.5-inch flexible OLED displays, the new series delivers industry-leading touch report rates and instant sampling rates. From everyday browsing and app switching to sudden stops, sharp turns and rapid multi-taps in high-frame-rate games, the GT9976 series ensures smooth, precise, and highly responsive touch interaction.

Reliable, High-Precision Touch Performance in Demanding Conditions

To address the noise interference from flexible OLED panels under heavy system loads, the GT9976 series adopts an industry-leading high-noise-suppression analog front end (AFE) sampling architecture that doubles SNR over the previous generation. Combined with Goodix’s proprietary gaming algorithms, the controllers accurately identify valid touch signals even in complex noise environments, delivering stable, precise coordinate data at all times.

In demanding scenarios such as FPS, MOBA and rhythm games, the GT9976 series combines a higher SNR, high-speed scanning and sampling, and enhanced real-time noise monitoring with frequency-hopping technology to enable faster tap response and stable multi-finger control without jitter or drift. This improves responsiveness and tracking accuracy for pixel-level actions such as flick aiming, recoil control, combo execution and movement.

The series also integrates advanced dual-mode self- and mutual-capacitance sensing with complementary algorithms to improve palm rejection, effectively reducing false touches caused by grip and edge contact. Dedicated optimization for sweaty hands, wet fingers and gaming finger sleeves helps maintain sensitive and stable touch performance under challenging real-world conditions.

Enhanced Active Stylus Support for Productivity and Creativity

For mobile productivity, education and professional drawing, the GT9976 series also delivers significantly enhanced active stylus performance. When paired with Goodix active stylus driver chip, the solution supports a 360Hz pen report rate. Together with Goodix’s proprietary stylus anti-interference algorithm, it achieves outstanding linearity and precision — accurately reproducing every stroke for tasks such as note-taking, fine annotation, sketching, and handwriting practice.

For flagship OLED tablets with large screens, Goodix also offers the GT7A series, which supports display sizes ranging from 10 to 14 inches while delivering the same high overall performance, further strengthening its portfolio for mid- to large-size touch applications. Both the GT9976 and GT7A series have been validated by leading device brands and display panel manufacturers, and are set to be adopted in foldable smartphones, gaming tablets, and slim flagship tablets — enabling smoother, more precise, and more reliable large-screen interaction.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodix-unveils-new-generation-touch-screen-controllers-for-medium-and-large-displays-302859395.html

SOURCE Goodix

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