Humanoid Robotics and AI Daily Wrap: Global Funding Rounds and Strategic Shifts
Generative Bionics Secures €70 Million to Accelerate ‘Physical AI’ Humanoids
Generative Bionics, an Italian startup spun out of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), has successfully closed a significant €70 million (approximately $81.6 million) funding round to advance its next generation of intelligent humanoid robots.
The funding round was led by the Artificial Intelligence Fund of CDP Venture Capital, an entity supported by the Italian government, and saw participation from major investors including stablecoin issuer Tether and AMD Ventures, the investment arm of Advanced Micro Devices.
The company’s focus is on “Physical AI,” which integrates artificial intelligence with physical robotic systems to create humanoids capable of operating safely and efficiently in environments designed for people.
These robots are specifically engineered for industrial applications, including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail, where they can perform repetitive, hazardous, or high-intensity operational tasks that conventional industrial arms struggle to replicate.
The capital raised is earmarked to accelerate product development, train the Physical AI systems, and support the construction of the company’s first production plant. The team includes approximately 70 engineers and AI specialists from the IIT, leveraging over 20 years of research on prototypes like iCub and ergoCub.
Generative Bionics plans to unveil the complete version of its first humanoid robot at the upcoming CES in Las Vegas, with its first industrial deployment contracts anticipated to be announced in early 2026.
DEEP Robotics Raises Over $70 Million to Advance Embodied Intelligence Platform
Hangzhou Yunshenchu Technology Co., Ltd., operating as DEEP Robotics, announced the completion of a Series C funding round, securing over $70 million. The funding is intended to accelerate the system-level evolution of the company’s embodied intelligence technologies, spanning both quadruped and humanoid platforms.
The round was co-led by CMB International and China Asset Management, with strategic investment from funds under China Telecom and China Unicom, signaling strong institutional and telecommunications sector confidence in the company’s robotics vision.
DEEP Robotics aims to use the new capital to expand its research and development efforts, attract top talent, and push its embodied intelligence technology from “isolated breakthroughs” to system-level enablement across global applications.
The company highlighted a strong year of product launches, including the world’s first wheel-leg hybrid quadruped robot, the M20 ‘Lynx’, and the DR02, which it claims is the world’s first industry-grade all-weather humanoid robot. It also unveiled DeepVLA 1.0, a vision-language embodied navigation system.
DEEP Robotics’ solutions are already deployed across 34 provincial-level regions in China and 44 countries globally, supporting a variety of applications such as power-grid inspection, security patrols, and warehouse operations.
Global Humanoid Strategies Diverge: Japan Focuses on Components as US and China Scale Systems
A new analysis from TrendForce indicates a divergence in global humanoid robot development strategies, with major economies focusing on different aspects of the technology.
Japan, recognized for its strong robotics heritage, is concentrating its efforts on improving essential components, such as high-precision actuators, sensors, and control systems. This strategy is seen as a way to increase the entry barrier for new competitors and solidify the country’s position as a key supplier of critical hardware.
In contrast, the United States and China are rapidly focusing on the rollout of end-to-end, full-system humanoid products, emphasizing rapid commercialization and deployment in various application scenarios.
Highlights from the iREX 2025 exhibition in Tokyo underscore this trend. Kawasaki Heavy Industries showcased its newest humanoid, Kaleido 9, which is capable of lifting 30 kg loads, learning to operate cleaning tools, and supporting remote control via VR headsets, positioning it for disaster response. Component specialist Harmonic Drive also presented optimized reducer designs specifically for humanoid joints.
TrendForce forecasts that 2026 will be a pivotal year for the commercialization of humanoid robots, projecting that global shipments will exceed 50,000 units, representing over 700% year-over-year growth.
EngineAI CEO Takes a Kick from T800 Humanoid to Quell CGI Claims
EngineAI CEO Zhao Tongyang took an unconventional step to address social media skepticism regarding the authenticity of his company’s T800 humanoid robot videos by posting footage of the robot kicking him to the ground. The demonstration was intended to prove the robot’s physical power and the genuineness of its movements.
The T800, which was announced earlier in the month, is a 1.73-meter-tall humanoid constructed with a magnesium-aluminum-alloy body and features 29 degrees of freedom across its major joints.
- **Power and Speed:** The robot’s legs are powered by motors capable of generating a maximum torque of 450 N⋅m, with a peak joint power of 14 kW, enabling it to move at speeds up to 3 m/s.
- **AI and Sensing:** The T800’s intelligence is driven by an Intel N97 CPU paired with an Nvidia AGX Orin 64GB AI module. It utilizes a 360-degree omnidirectional LIDAR sensor for obstacle avoidance.
- **Pricing and Availability:** The base model of the T800 is priced starting at approximately $25,000, with a flagship Max model costing up to $50,000. Deliveries for pre-orders are expected to begin in June 2026.
The company also announced the closure of additional Series A1+ and A2 funding rounds, building on an initial raise of one billion yuan (approximately $140 million) to support its team of over 150 project engineers.
Uzbekistan and South Korea Partner to Launch Humanoid Robot Production
A new strategic collaboration in Central Asia was announced as Uzbekistan and South Korea reached an agreement to launch the production of humanoid robots in Uzbekistan.
The agreement was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Uzeltechsanoat Association of Uzbekistan and South Korean robotics company ROBOTIS.
The primary goal of the partnership is to establish the necessary technological and manufacturing infrastructure to develop Uzbekistan’s national robotics industry.
ROBOTIS is a well-known South Korean firm recognized globally for its humanoid robots, educational and industrial robotic systems, and its DYNAMIXEL smart actuators, which are critical components for advanced robotics.
This initiative highlights the growing global trend of regional partnerships aimed at decentralizing and expanding the manufacturing base for advanced robotics, bringing humanoid technology to new international markets.