China's startup ramps up application of humanoid robots

AgiBot, China's arguably most-valued embodied intelligence startup, is ramping up efforts to accelerate application of its humanoid robots, as it showcases how these machines are used across industrial, commercial, and household scenarios.

The move followed AgiBot's strategic partnership announcement with Longcheer, a Chinese original design manufacturer, or ODM, of consumer electronics. Under the collaboration, Longcheer placed a framework order worth hundreds of millions of yuan for AgiBot's G2 robots—one of the largest industrial humanoid robot orders in China. Nearly 1,000 units will be deployed in factories of Longcheer.

AgiBot, a key partner of China Mobile, is showcasing its progress toward scaled, industrialized, and commercialized robotics at the latter's ongoing annual global partners' conference in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. A2 is the company's first full-sized humanoid robot designed for scaled deployment, served as a receptionist and guide—capable of autonomous movement and fluent interaction powered by its self-developed large language model.

The company said it has built a comprehensive solution matrix covering security patrols, industrial manufacturing, logistics sorting, guided reception, commercial entertainment, education, data collection, and commercial cleaning.

Yao Maoqing, a partner at AgiBot and president of its embodied intelligence business unit, said the company began product deliveries to overseas customers earlier this year, and it will ratchet up resources to explore markets such as North America, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.