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South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Chinese robotics star Agibot adds JD.com as investor, joining Tencent as Big Tech backer
Chinese e-commerce giant has recently become a shareholder in Tencent Holdings -backed robotics star AgiBot, as China's robotics industry has become one of the most closely watched sectors this year among investors and tech giants. AgiBot, also known as Zhiyuan Robotics, was established in 2023 by a founding team that included Huawei Technologies veterans and professors. The company recently added JD subsidiary JD Technology as a shareholder of its main entity, Shanghai Zhiyuan New Innovation Technology, according to a company record change on May 22 from registry information provider Aiqicha. Another new shareholder is Shanghai Embodied Intelligence Venture Fund, formed just last month with backing from the Shanghai government. AgiBot has set a record in total funding among its Chinese peers, according to a Thursday post by Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment, which owns the Shanghai Embodied Intelligence Venture Fund. Following the investment, which saw each new shareholder take a 0.75 per cent stake in AgiBot, the Shanghai-based robotics start-up boosted its registered capital by 2.7 per cent to 82.6 million yuan (US$11 million), according to Aiqicha data. It is not clear whether the start-up has launched a new funding round. Neither JD nor AgiBot immediately responded to requests for comment on Friday. Shanghai Embodied Intelligence Venture Fund could not be reached for comment.
Gulf Today
14-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
China's humanoid robots aim to transform manufacturing
In a sprawling warehouse in a Shanghai suburb, dozens of humanoid robots are manoeuvred by their operators to carry out tasks like folding a T-shirt, making a sandwich and opening doors, over and over again. Operating 17 hours a day, the site's goal is to generate reams of data that its owner, Chinese humanoid startup AgiBot, uses to train robots it hopes will become ubiquitous and change the way humans live, work and play. 'Just imagine that one day in our own robot factory, our robots are assembling themselves,' said Yao Maoqing, a partner at AgiBot. The importance of humanoid robots to Beijing, as it looks for solutions to pressing issues including trade frictions with the US, population decline, and slowing growth, was underscored when Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected AgiBot's robots in Shanghai last month. Xi jokingly remarked during the visit that perhaps the machines could play in a football team. Another domestic developer of humanoid robots, Unitree, was also present in a meeting Xi hosted for private firms earlier this year, where he urged them to help China's economy. As the USnegotiates with China over tariffs that President Donald Trump had imposed to help bring back US manufacturing jobs, Beijing is aiming for a new industrial revolution where many factory tasks would be performed by humanoid robots. In recent years, Chinese humanoid robots have demonstrated increasing feats of agility, including performing somersaults, running a half-marathon, and even playing football, as Xi mused. But Reuters is reporting for the first time details about how China's advances in artificial intelligence, partly driven by the success of homegrown firms like DeepSeek as well as abundant government support, are allowing humanoid developers to pair the robots' already impressive hardware with the software needed to make them economically valuable. Reuters spoke to more than a dozen people, including Chinese humanoid manufacturers, investors, customers and analysts, who described how breakthroughs in developing robot 'brains' will allow these metallic machines to go from mere spectacles to productive and autodidact workers that could revolutionise the world's pre-eminent manufacturing power. China aims to build its edge by focusing on data training and the sophistication of its AI models, the people said, with some saying the prowess of DeepSeek was a big aid. DeepSeek and the Chinese government didn't respond to requests for comment about their roles in the development of humanoid robots. A successful and widespread deployment of these robots in factory floors would enable China to keep driving economic growth and maintain its manufacturing superiority, making the field an area of competition with the US. Less clear is how Beijing would manage the spectre of layoffs of factory workers. State media has suggested that, as with previous industrial revolutions, long-term job creation would outweigh short-term pain. Chinese authorities are handing out generous subsidies for humanoid firms. More than $20 billion has been allocated to the sector over the past year, and Beijing is establishing a one trillion yuan ($137 billion) fund to support startups in areas such as AI and robotics, official announcements show. The government is also a key buyer, according to a Reuters review of hundreds of tender documents. State procurement of humanoid robots and related tech jumped to 214 million yuan in 2024 from 4.7 million yuan in 2023. Other state support includes a newly created 10 billion yuan AI and robotics fund by the southern city of Shenzhen. Humanoid robot makers and component suppliers based in Wuhan are eligible for subsidies of up to 5 million yuan after reaching thresholds for procurement and sales targets, as well as free office space. Beijing's municipal government created a robotics fund in 2023 that offered up to 30 million yuan for companies looking to accelerate construction of their first products. Some analysts predict that humanoids could follow the trajectory of electric vehicles, whose costs tumbled dramatically over the past decade as manufacturers rushed in and government subsidies spurred widespread adoption among the Chinese public. The average bill of materials for a humanoid will be about $35,000 by the end of this year but could fall to $17,000 by 2030 if most of it is sourced from China, said Ming Hsun Lee, head of Greater China automotive and industrial research at Bank of America Securities, in a research note. Three Chinese humanoid manufacturers told Reuters they predicted a similar halving of costs, perhaps within a year. In comparison, the component cost for Tesla's Optimus robots, if all of their major parts are sourced from outside China, is currently $50,000 to $60,000, Lee added in the note. Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment. 'With its comprehensive supply chain, China has an edge in lowering the humanoid robot production cost significantly,' Lee told Reuters, estimating that global humanoid robot annual sales could reach 1 million units in 2030. 'This industry is still in its baby boom stage.' The Chinese government is also investing heavily in data collection, which several executives said was the industry's main pain point but also an area where China had an advantage. In comparison to generative AI, where tech companies have trained foundation models by drawing from massive online datasets of text, pictures and audio, the supply of data necessary to train AI models used to run humanoid robots, also known as embodied AI platforms, is far smaller. Humanoids need to interact with a physical environment and train on datasets focused on tasks, such as stacking boxes or pouring water into a cup. Last year, Shanghai authorities assisted in setting up AgiBot's data collection site, providing premises rent-free where about 100 robots operated by 200 humans work every day. AgiBot's facility enables it to collect high-quality, targeted data, which it can use to train its embodied AI model, said Yao. Similar sites are being built by governments in Beijing and Shenzhen, according to announcements. Widening deployment of humanoids, especially into factories, is likely to accelerate data collection. MagicLab, another humanoid startup, said in an interview that its focus on the robots' brains has allowed it to recently begin deploying prototypes in production lines for tasks such as quality inspection, material handling, and assembly. 'These breakthroughs lay the foundation for our focus in 2025 on real-world applications,' said CEO Wu Changzheng, adding that MagicLab has integrated its robots with AI models like DeepSeek, Alibaba's Qwen, and ByteDance's Doubao. 'DeepSeek has been helpful in task reasoning and comprehension, contributing to the development of our robots' 'brains.'' China's clearest advantage, however, is its domination of the hardware that makes up a humanoid. The country is capable of making up to 90% of humanoid components, lowering barriers to entry, according to analysts and startups. As a result, China now accounts for the majority of manufacturers working on such projects globally and dominates the supply chain, according to Morgan Stanley. Some Chinese startups are selling robots as cheaply as 88,000 yuan ($12,178). 'If you have a requirement in the morning, suppliers might come to your company with materials or products by the afternoon, or you can go directly to their site to see for yourself,' said Zhang Miao, chief operating officer of Beijing-based startup CASBOT. 'It's difficult to achieve this level of efficiency overseas,' she added, as companies would need to import materials from China. The sector has seen an explosion of new firms. In 2024, 31 Chinese companies unveiled 36 competing humanoid models versus eight by US companies, according to Morgan Stanley. At least six companies in China, including market leaders Unitree and UBTech, have said they have entered mass production or are preparing to do so this year. While the industry remains incipient, Chinese lawmakers have begun to discuss the far-reaching implications intelligent humanoid robots could have for the workforce. Reuters
News24
14-05-2025
- Business
- News24
China's AI-powered humanoid robots aim to transform manufacturing
China's humanoid robots aim to boost economic growth, manufacturing edge. Advances in AI help to make humanoid robots economically valuable. Robots' rise spurs talk of AI unemployment insurance. In a sprawling warehouse in a Shanghai suburb, dozens of humanoid robots are manoeuvred by their operators to carry out tasks like folding a T-shirt, making a sandwich and opening doors, over and over again. Operating 17 hours a day, the site's goal is to generate reams of data that its owner, Chinese humanoid startup AgiBot, uses to train robots it hopes will become ubiquitous and change the way humans live, work and play. 'Just imagine that one day in our own robot factory, our robots are assembling themselves,' said Yao Maoqing, a partner at AgiBot. The importance of humanoid robots to Beijing, as it looks for solutions to pressing issues including trade frictions with the U.S., population decline, and slowing growth, was underscored when Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected AgiBot's robots in Shanghai last month. Xi jokingly remarked during the visit that perhaps the machines could play in a football team. Another domestic developer of humanoid robots, Unitree, was also present in a meeting Xi hosted for private firms earlier this year, where he urged them to help China's economy. As the US negotiates with China over tariffs that President Donald Trump had imposed to help bring back US manufacturing jobs, Beijing is aiming for a new industrial revolution where many factory tasks would be performed by humanoid robots. In recent years, Chinese humanoid robots have demonstrated increasing feats of agility, including performing somersaults, running a half-marathon, and even playing football, as Xi mused. For the first time details about how China's advances in artificial intelligence, partly driven by the success of homegrown firms like DeepSeek as well as abundant government support, are allowing humanoid developers to pair the robots' already impressive hardware with the software needed to make them economically valuable. More than a dozen people, including Chinese humanoid manufacturers, investors, customers and analysts, described how breakthroughs in developing robot 'brains' will allow these metallic machines to go from mere spectacles to productive and autodidact workers that could revolutionise the world's pre-eminent manufacturing power. China aims to build its edge by focusing on data training and the sophistication of its AI models, the people said, with some saying the prowess of DeepSeek was a big aid. DeepSeek and the Chinese government didn't respond to requests for comment about their roles in the development of humanoid robots. A successful and widespread deployment of these robots in factory floors would enable China to keep driving economic growth and maintain its manufacturing superiority, making the field an area of competition with the US. Less clear is how Beijing would manage the spectre of layoffs of factory workers. State media has suggested that, as with previous industrial revolutions, long-term job creation would outweigh short-term pain. Government support Chinese authorities are handing out generous subsidies for humanoid firms. More than $20 billion (R260 billion) has been allocated to the sector over the past year, and Beijing is establishing a one trillion yuan ($137 billion) fund to support startups in areas such as AI and robotics, official announcements show. The government is also a key buyer, according to a review of hundreds of tender documents. State procurement of humanoid robots and related tech jumped to 214 million yuan in 2024 from 4.7 million yuan in 2023. Other state support includes a newly created 10 billion yuan AI and robotics fund by the southern city of Shenzhen. Humanoid robot makers and component suppliers based in Wuhan are eligible for subsidies of up to 5 million yuan after reaching thresholds for procurement and sales targets, as well as free office space. Beijing's municipal government created a robotics fund in 2023 that offered up to 30 million yuan for companies looking to accelerate construction of their first products. Some analysts predict that humanoids could follow the trajectory of electric vehicles, whose costs tumbled dramatically over the past decade as manufacturers rushed in and government subsidies spurred widespread adoption among the Chinese public. The average bill of materials for a humanoid will be about R640 000 by the end of this year but could fall to R310 000 by 2030 if most of it is sourced from China, said Ming Hsun Lee, head of Greater China automotive and industrial research at Bank of America Securities, in a research note. Three Chinese humanoid manufacturers said they predicted a similar halving of costs, perhaps within a year. In comparison, the component cost for Tesla's Optimus robots, if all of their major parts are sourced from outside China, is currently $50,000 to $60,000, Lee added in the note. Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment. 'With its comprehensive supply chain, China has an edge in lowering the humanoid robot production cost significantly,' Lee said, estimating that global humanoid robot annual sales could reach 1 million units in 2030. 'This industry is still in its baby boom stage.' AI and data The Chinese government is also investing heavily in data collection, which several executives said was the industry's main pain point but also an area where China had an advantage. In comparison to generative AI, where tech companies have trained foundation models by drawing from massive online datasets of text, pictures and audio, the supply of data necessary to train AI models used to run humanoid robots, also known as embodied AI platforms, is far smaller. Humanoids need to interact with a physical environment and train on datasets focused on tasks, such as stacking boxes or pouring water into a cup. Last year, Shanghai authorities assisted in setting up AgiBot's data collection site, providing premises rent-free where about 100 robots operated by 200 humans work every day. AgiBot's facility enables it to collect high-quality, targeted data, which it can use to train its embodied AI model, said Yao. Similar sites are being built by governments in Beijing and Shenzhen, according to announcements. Widening deployment of humanoids, especially into factories, is likely to accelerate data collection. MagicLab, another humanoid startup, said in an interview that its focus on the robots' brains has allowed it to recently begin deploying prototypes in production lines for tasks such as quality inspection, material handling, and assembly. 'These breakthroughs lay the foundation for our focus in 2025 on real-world applications,' said CEO Wu Changzheng, adding that MagicLab has integrated its robots with AI models like DeepSeek, Alibaba's Qwen, and ByteDance's Doubao. China's clearest advantage, however, is its domination of the hardware that makes up a humanoid. The country is capable of making up to 90% of humanoid components, lowering barriers to entry, according to analysts and startups. As a result, China now accounts for the majority of manufacturers working on such projects globally and dominates the supply chain, according to Morgan Stanley. Some Chinese startups are selling robots as cheaply as 88 000 yuan (R220 000). If you have a requirement in the morning, suppliers might come to your company with materials or products by the afternoon, or you can go directly to their site to see for yourself,' said Zhang Miao, chief operating officer of Beijing-based startup CASBOT 'It's difficult to achieve this level of efficiency overseas,' she added, as companies would need to import materials from China. The sector has seen an explosion of new firms. In 2024, 31 Chinese companies unveiled 36 competing humanoid models versus eight by US companies, according to Morgan Stanley. At least six companies in China, including market leaders Unitree and UBTech, have said they have entered mass production or are preparing to do so this year. Jobs at risk While the industry remains incipient, Chinese lawmakers have begun to discuss the far-reaching implications intelligent humanoid robots could have for the workforce. Some 123 million people work in manufacturing in China, according to a 2023 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics. At this year's National People's Congress, social security expert Zheng Gongcheng warned that the development of robots and AI would affect around 70% of China's manufacturing sector, which could lead to a steep decline in social security contributions. At the same gathering, Liu Qingfeng, chairman of domestic AI firm iFlytek, suggested the creation of an AI unemployment insurance programme that would provide six to 12 months of coverage for workers replaced by robots. Tang Jian, th echief technology officer at the government-backed Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, said on the sidelines of the Beijing robot half-marathon in April that its prototypes were targeting jobs that humans don't want to do due to their boring or repetitive nature, as well as dangerous tasks. Despite concerns about the impact on jobs, Beijing sees the technology as key to plug labour shortages in areas such as elderly care, where demand is increasing as China's 1.4 billion population ages. China's government published a national elderly-care plan in December that encouraged integration of humanoid robots and AI. Soon after, tech giant Ant Group announced the creation of new subsidiary Ant Lingbo Technology, whose humanoid robots will focus on elderly care, among other areas. 'The robots in five or 10 years could organise a resident's room, pick up a package or even transfer people from a bed to a washroom,' said AgiBot's Yao.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
China's Humanoid Robots Poised to Revolutionize Manufacturing with AI Power
In a Shanghai warehouse, humanoid robots work relentlessly, folding clothes, making sandwiches, and completing other tasks for up to 17 hours a day. The aim is to gather data that will refine these robots, creating machines that are set to transform the workforce and manufacturing processes globally. Chinese humanoid robot startup AgiBot, which operates this facility, envisions a future where robots could not only assemble products but also assemble themselves. The technology promises to change the way humans work, live, and interact with machines. Chinese President Xi Jinping, during his recent visit to AgiBot's Shanghai facility, emphasized the significance of robots for the country's future, even joking that these machines might one day form a football team. The push for innovation in this sector coincides with Xi's broader call for private firms to help propel China's economy amidst global challenges like trade tensions and population decline. China is striving to build an industrial revolution driven by AI-powered humanoid robots to keep its manufacturing edge and overcome economic hurdles. Chinese humanoid robots are now not just feats of technology but are being equipped with AI to make them commercially viable for real-world applications. AI Advancements and Government Support Fuel Growth China's rapid strides in humanoid robotics owe much to significant advancements in AI, backed by homegrown tech giants like DeepSeek, and strong government subsidies. Over the past year alone, the government has allocated over $20 billion to the sector, with an additional $137 billion fund earmarked to support AI and robotics startups. In 2024, state procurement for humanoid robots soared to 214 million yuan from just 4.7 million yuan the previous year. China's focus on building a competitive edge in humanoid robotics is also supported by its well-established supply chain, which allows for the efficient production of robot components at competitive prices. Experts predict that by 2030, humanoid robot production costs could be halved, making them accessible for large-scale deployment across factories and other industries. Impact on Manufacturing and Labor Force China's push to adopt humanoid robots is poised to reshape manufacturing. With major strides in robot agility, including feats like running marathons and performing acrobatics, humanoids are moving beyond the realm of novelty. The Chinese government sees these robots as a potential solution to labor shortages, particularly in industries like elderly care, where the aging population is placing growing demands on services. However, the rise of humanoid robots has sparked discussions about the future of employment. With over 123 million workers in China's manufacturing sector, experts predict that intelligent robots could replace a significant portion of this workforce. Some lawmakers have even proposed an AI unemployment insurance program to support displaced workers. While there are concerns about job losses, the Chinese government suggests that the long-term benefits of automation will outweigh the short-term disruptions, with a particular focus on relieving humans from dangerous or repetitive jobs. The Road Ahead As humanoid robots become more advanced and capable of performing complex tasks, the global manufacturing landscape will change. With China at the forefront of this technological shift, the potential for economic growth, productivity improvements, and new job creation in emerging sectors looks promising. However, how China manages the social and economic challenges posed by widespread automation will be key to shaping its future role in the global economy.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
China's AI humanoids set to reshape manufacturing
SHANGHAI: In a sprawling warehouse in a Shanghai suburb, dozens of humanoid robots are manoeuvred by their operators to carry out tasks like folding a T-shirt, making a sandwich and opening doors, over and over again. Operating 17 hours a day, the site's goal is to generate reams of data that its owner, Chinese humanoid startup AgiBot, uses to train robots it hopes will become ubiquitous and change the way humans live, work and play. 'Just imagine that one day in our own robot factory, our robots are assembling themselves,' said Yao Maoqing, a partner at AgiBot. The importance of humanoid robots to Beijing, as it looks for solutions to pressing issues including trade frictions with the US, population decline, and slowing growth, was underscored when Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected AgiBot's robots in Shanghai last month. Xi jokingly remarked during the visit that perhaps the machines could play in a football team. Another domestic developer of humanoid robots Unitree, was also present in a meeting Xi hosted for private firms earlier this year, where he urged them to help China's economy. As the US negotiates with China over tariffs that President Donald Trump had imposed to help bring back US manufacturing jobs, Beijing is aiming for a new industrial revolution where many factory tasks would be performed by humanoid robots. In recent years, Chinese humanoid robots have demonstrated increasing feats of agility including performing somersaults, running a half-marathon, and even playing football, as Xi mused. But Reuters is reporting for the first time details about how China's advances in artificial intelligence, partly driven by the success of homegrown firms like DeepSeek as well as abundant government support, are allowing humanoid developers to pair the robots' already impressive hardware with the software needed to make them economically valuable. Reuters spoke to more than a dozen people including Chinese humanoid manufacturers, investors, customers and analysts, who described how breakthroughs in developing robot 'brains' will allow these metallic machines to go from mere spectacles to productive and autodidact workers that could revolutionise the world's pre-eminent manufacturing power. China aims to build its edge by focusing on data training and the sophistication of its AI models, the people said, with some saying the prowess of DeepSeek was a big aid. DeepSeek and the Chinese government didn't respond to requests for comment about their roles in the development of humanoid robots. A successful and widespread deployment of these robots in factory floors would enable China to keep driving economic growth and maintain its manufacturing superiority, making the field an area of competition with the US Less clear is how Beijing plans to manage the looming threat of mass factory worker layoffs. State media has suggested that, as with previous industrial revolutions, the long-term gains in job creation and economic transformation would ultimately outweigh the short-term disruptions and hardships. Chinese authorities are handing out generous subsidies for humanoid firms. More than US$20 billion (RM86 billion) has been allocated to the sector over the past year, and Beijing is establishing a one trillion yuan (RM588 billion) fund to support startups in areas such as AI and robotics, official announcements show. The government is also a key buyer, according to a Reuters review of hundreds of tender documents. State procurement of humanoid robots and related tech jumped to 214 million yuan in 2024 from 4.7 million yuan in 2023. Other state support includes a newly created 10 billion yuan AI and robotics fund by the southern city of Shenzhen. Humanoid robot makers and component suppliers based in Wuhan are eligible for subsidies of up to 5 million yuan after reaching thresholds for procurement and sales targets, as well as free office space. Beijing's municipal government created a robotics fund in 2023 that offered up to 30 million yuan for companies looking to accelerate construction of their first products. Some analysts predict that humanoids could follow the trajectory of electric vehicles, whose costs tumbled dramatically over the past decade as manufacturers rushed in and government subsidies spurred widespread adoption among the Chinese public. The average bill of materials for a humanoid will be about US$35,000 by the end of this year but could fall to US$17,000 by 2030 if most of it is sourced from China, said Ming Hsun Lee, head of Greater China automotive and industrial research at Bank of America Securities, in a research note. Three Chinese humanoid manufacturers told Reuters they predicted a similar halving of costs, perhaps within a year. In comparison, the component cost for Tesla's Optimus robots, if all of their major parts are sourced from outside China, is currently US$50,000 to US$60,000, Lee added in the note. Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment. 'With its comprehensive supply chain, China has an edge in lowering the humanoid robot production cost significantly,' Lee told Reuters, estimating that global humanoid robot annual sales could reach 1 million units in 2030. 'This industry is still in its baby boom stage.' The Chinese government is also investing heavily in data collection, which several executives said was the industry's main pain point but also an area where China had an advantage. In comparison to generative AI, where tech companies have trained foundation models by drawing from massive online datasets of text, pictures and audio, the supply of data necessary to train AI models used to run humanoid robots, also known as embodied AI platforms, is far smaller. Humanoids need to interact with a physical environment and train on datasets focused on tasks, such as stacking boxes or pouring water into a cup. Last year, Shanghai authorities assisted in setting up AgiBot's data collection site, providing premises rent-free where about 100 robots operated by 200 humans work every day. AgiBot's facility enables it to collect high-quality, targeted data, which it can use to train its embodied AI model, said Yao. Similar sites are being built by governments in Beijing and Shenzhen, according to announcements. Widening deployment of humanoids, especially into factories, is likely to accelerate data collection. MagicLab, another humanoid startup, said in an interview that its focus on the robots' brains has allowed it to recently begin deploying prototypes in production lines for tasks such as quality inspection, material handling, and assembly. 'These breakthroughs lay the foundation for our focus in 2025 on real-world applications,' said CEO Wu Changzheng, adding that MagicLab has integrated its robots with AI models like DeepSeek, Alibaba's Qwen, and ByteDance's Doubao. – Reuters
