Ant Group, the fintech giant behind Alipay, introduced its first humanoid robot R1 at the Inclusion Conference in Shanghai.
Designed by subsidiary Shanghai Ant Lingbo Technology Co., the robot can serve as a tour guide, sort medicine at pharmacies, provide medical consultation, and perform basic kitchen tasks.
What sets R1 apart is its focus on artificial intelligence over hardware development.
The robot is powered by Ant’s AI technology, and the company is developing its own large language model called BaiLing.
Unlike competitors focusing on hardware, Ant is concentrating on developing brains for robots, viewing humanoids as a strategic gateway to popularizing AI chatbots and assistants.
Currently, R1 is being tested in community care centers and restaurants as Ant works to make AI-powered helpers a bigger part of everyday life.
The company aims to develop companion and caregiver robots designed to enhance daily life, from medical assistance to household tasks, though no retail price has been set yet.
