Alibaba (Chinese e-commerce and tech company) leads investment in humanoid robots
On September 6, 2025, Alibaba announced it had led a $100 million funding round in a Chinese startup developing AI-powered humanoid robots. The capital is aimed at accelerating the creation of models capable of movement and interaction in industrial and service settings, as global firms race to prove the viability of general-purpose robotics. The deal underscores China’s strategy to embed artificial intelligence into robotics to counter rivals such as U.S.-based Figure AI and Agility Robotics. No verified valuation for the startup was disclosed after the round.
Alibaba invested $100M in a Chinese AI humanoid robotics startup, highlighting China’s ambition to compete globally in next-generation robotics.