Jack Ma's Ant Group just threw down the gauntlet in the humanoid robotics race. The Chinese fintech giant's robotics arm Robbyant unveiled its first humanoid robot, the R1, at major tech conferences this month, directly challenging Tesla's Optimus bot with a machine that can cook shrimp and handle basic kitchen tasks. While the demo showed glacially slow movements, it signals another major tech player betting big on AI-powered physical automation.
Ant Group isn't content dominating digital payments anymore. The Chinese tech powerhouse behind Alipay just entered the humanoid robotics arena with its R1 robot, marking another major player's entry into what's shaping up to be the next battleground for AI supremacy.
The reveal couldn't have been more perfectly timed. While Tesla continues hyping its Optimus robot and promising mass production, Ant's robotics subsidiary Robbyant was busy showing off actual hardware at IFA 2025 in Berlin and this week's Inclusion Conference in Shanghai. The R1 cooked shrimp for audiences, a decidedly practical demonstration that cuts through the usual robotics hype.
But let's be honest about the performance. Video footage from IFA shows the R1 moving with all the urgency of continental drift, placing a simple box on a counter with movements so deliberate they make watching paint dry seem thrilling. It's a reminder that despite all the AI breakthroughs, the physical world remains stubbornly difficult for robots to navigate.
"The company has not announced a launch date or price point for the bot and is reportedly testing it in community centers and restaurants," according to Bloomberg's coverage of the Shanghai demo. This testing approach suggests Ant is taking a measured, real-world validation path rather than rushing to market with flashy promises.
The R1's applications extend well beyond kitchen duty. Robbyant says the bot could serve as a healthcare companion, caregiver assistant, or tourist guide. It's a smart positioning that targets service industries where human-robot interaction is already more accepted and the economic case for automation is clearer.
What makes this particularly interesting is the competitive dynamics at play. Ant Group, with its massive financial resources and AI expertise from parent company Alibaba, brings serious firepower to a field that's been dominated by specialized robotics companies and Elon Musk's grand promises. The company's deep pockets and proven track record of scaling consumer technology could accelerate humanoid robot development in ways we haven't seen before.
