1 hour ago
14
Two Chinese robotics companies, both barely three years old, just crossed into near-unicorn-times-three territory on the same day. AI² Robotics and Alibaba-backed X Square Robot each reached valuations of approximately $2.9 billion, a milestone that says less about any single company and more about the sheer velocity of capital pouring into China’s robotics sector.
Inside the funding rounds
AI² Robotics pulled in approximately 5 billion yuan, or around $736 million, in new financing on June 29, 2026. That single round vaulted the company to its $2.9 billion valuation and cemented its position as one of China’s most well-capitalized players in the humanoid and general-purpose robotics market.
X Square Robot took a different path to the same destination. The company, which counts Alibaba among its backers, reached its $2.9 billion valuation through a series of funding stages. A Series B round in April 2026 brought in between $276 million and $291 million, pushing its total funding to somewhere between $500 million and $700 million across all rounds.
Both companies were founded in 2023. The focus for both firms is on embodied AI and humanoid robots, a category that encompasses machines designed to operate in physical environments alongside, or in place of, humans.
China’s robotics arms race
These two companies aren’t operating in a vacuum. China has made robotics and AI a strategic national priority, with significant investments from major players such as Alibaba, ByteDance, and Xiaomi helping bolster the sector.
Alibaba’s backing of X Square Robot adds a layer of strategic significance. When one of China’s largest technology conglomerates puts capital behind a robotics startup, it signals integration potential with existing logistics, cloud computing, and e-commerce infrastructure.
What this means for investors
Neither AI² Robotics nor X Square Robot involves tokens, digital assets, or blockchain-based financing structures. The capital is traditional venture money, corporate strategic investment, and likely some government-backed funds.
A stark valuation disparity also exists with U.S. firms like Figure AI, whose market capitalizations remain substantially higher, illuminating the competitive landscape between the two nations in advanced technology development.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) ·