Ant Group, Led by Jack Ma, Launches Its First Humanoid Robot

Ant Group Co, supported by Jack Ma, revealed its first humanoid robot on Thursday, signaling its entrance into a growing competition among Chinese companies aiming to match the US in leveraging advanced technology.

The company’s subsidiary, Shanghai Ant Lingbo Technology Co, also referred to as Robbyant, unveiled the R1 humanoid model at the 2025 Inclusion Conference on the Bund in Shanghai. This robot is intended to serve as a tour guide, manage medications in pharmacies, provide medical consultations, and aid in basic kitchen tasks.

Ant joins the ranks of key players delving into humanoid robotics, a nascent industry contested by firms like Tesla Inc and new players such as Unitree Robotics from nearby Hangzhou. With a greater density of robots per capita in its factories compared to the US and Japan, China is poised to deploy humanoid robots in increasingly complex roles.

While numerous companies focus on hardware manufacturing, Ant is concentrating on creating advanced robotic intelligence. The firm perspective humanoids as a crucial pathway for popularizing AI-driven chatbots and assistants, banking on the transformative capabilities of large AI models that are set to change human-machine interactions, according to Robbyant’s CEO, Zhu Xing.

“When humanoid robots enter households, they won’t merely assist with daily tasks; they’ll serve as highly intelligent aides, utilizing cloud-based AI for a wider array of functions,” Zhu stated. “Ant’s engagement is logical as our mission is to improve lives across various domains, including payments, finance, and digital public services.”

While Ant is chiefly known as the fintech enterprise driving the Alipay digital payment system, it has been making significant investments in artificial intelligence to stay competitive in a swiftly evolving environment dominated by technologies like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. The company is also developing its own large language model, BaiLing, while exploring cost-effective, domestically produced semiconductors for training purposes.

The R1 robot is built using components sourced from Chinese suppliers, including Ti5 for joint modules and Galaxea AI—also backed by Ant—for its chassis, according to sources familiar with the situation. The company is reportedly in discussions with Unitree and Shanghai-listed Orbbec Inc. However, none of the companies responded to requests for comments regarding their suppliers.

“While the actual physical production might be somewhat straightforward to outsource, developing a robust and scalable model is critical,” remarked Andy Mok, a senior research fellow at the Beijing-based non-governmental think tank, Centre for China and Globalisation. “The AI model will be an essential factor, possibly more so than manufacturing or engineering. China is facing notable competition in this domain.”

Ant’s advanced model equips the R1 robot to effectively handle the planning of multifaceted tasks. The company asserts that its AI aids the R1 in preparing and serving meals. It has the potential to learn new recipes and manipulate various kitchen tools, thanks to its spatial perception system, which can understand relationships among objects such as tables and appliances.

Bloomberg News has not independently verified Ant’s claims. For safety reasons, the company is currently testing the robot in environments like community care centers and restaurants rather than marketing it to retail customers, and a price has yet to be determined. In the long run, the firm aims to develop companion and caregiver robots that improve daily living, from providing medical help to performing household chores.

Ant, which has invested in Unitree and has been exploring AI in healthcare for several years, launched an AI application called AQ in June that analyzes medical reports and offers guidance from doctors. This initiative followed Ant’s acquisition of the Chinese online healthcare platform Haodf.com earlier this year.

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