What’s New
A Chinese technology company announced earlier this week that it has begun the mass production of general-purpose robots.
AgiBot, also known as Zhiyuan, a start-up that launched in February 2023, released a video on its website of its new robots on December 16.
The firm has manufactured nearly 1,000 of the humanoid robots so far, according to The Global Times.
Newsweek has contacted AgiBot via email for comment.
#Agibot, a Chinese robotics start-up launched in February 2023, has stirred significant excitement in the industry with its announcement of having already begun mass production of general-purpose robots, while #Tesla, the US electric car giant, envisions launching mass production… pic.twitter.com/i4ZLl35wnt
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) December 19, 2024
Why It Matters
The U.S. has also been pushing the development of humanoid robots, with Tesla showcasing the latest iteration of it’s own bot at the We, Robot event in October. It now seems the U.S. is in a race against China to be the first country with humanoid robots available for commercial use.
CEO Elon Musk said on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, earlier this year that Tesla would have its robots ready for companies by 2026, showing both countries are hot on each other’s heels to get robots on the market with China appearing to take a lead.
Musk wrote: “Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026.”
Newsweek has contacted the Tesla press office out of hours via email for comment.
Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 22, 2024
What To Know
AgiBot shared a four-minute long video showcasing the stages of its robotic production line at the Lingang Fengxian factory in Shanghai.
This includes inventory shelving, component assembly, component testing, aging tests and performance testing, where some of the company’s pre-made robots are shown assisting the process.
AgiBot has previously said that it is “proud to be at the forefront of innovation in humanoid robotics.”
“As a rising company in this space, we have committed ourselves to full-stack technology development, encompassing everything from wheeled robots to bipedal humanoid robots,” the company added.
The company shared that it was working on creating robots that “move with precision and stability.” This includes dexterous hand development so that the robots can “mimic human capabilities for intricate tasks.”
AgiBot is also working on “massive data collection” to advance artificial intelligence (AI) training and equip its robots with “intelligent brains to interact seamlessly with the world around them.”
Tesla has been developing its robot over the last few years, but has not yet made any mention of whether it will be mass producing them.
While AgiBot has spoken about the intricacy of the work it hopes its robots will be able to carry out, Musk’s robots appear to be more suited to general daily tasks.
Tesla’s Optimus robot is described by the company as “a general purpose, bi-pedal, humanoid robot capable of performing tasks that are unsafe, repetitive or boring.”
When the latest version was showcased at the October 10 event, Musk said: “What can it do? It’ll do anything you want.”
“It can be a teacher, babysit your kids. It can walk your dog, mow your lawn, get the groceries, just be your friend, serve drinks. Whatever you can think of, it will do,” he added.
SYSPEO/Sipa via AP
What People Are Saying
AgiBot said, via LinkedIn: “We are thrilled to announce that AgiBot has officially started the commercial mass production of our humanoid robots! This milestone marks a significant step in the evolution of robotics and automation. Our team has worked tirelessly to bring cutting-edge technology to life, ensuring that these robots are equipped to tackle a variety of real-world challenges, enhancing efficiency across different industries. With the integration of advanced AI and automation capabilities, we’re looking forward to seeing how these robots will transform workplaces and everyday environments. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with robotics!”
@China_Focus said on X: “Before you see Tesla mass-producing humanoid robots by 2026, take a tour of Agibot’s manufacturing facility! Agibot, a Chinese robotics start-up launched in February 2023, has begun mass production of general-purpose humanoid robots and reportedly produced at least 962 humanoids.”
What’s Next
As China pushes ahead in the race to mass produce humanoid robots, it has stirred significant excitement over the fast-approaching potential for robots to carry out general, daily tasks.
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