Robbyant, the embodied artificial intelligence division of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, has officially initiated efforts to secure external funding, marking a significant step in the company’s aggressive push into physical AI. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the division is seeking approximately 1.5 billion yuan ($222 million) in its maiden fundraising round, with ambitions to complete a second round of financing before the end of the year.
Established in late 2024, Robbyant represents Ant Group’s core initiative in the rapidly expanding field of embodied intelligence, focusing specifically on the development of a general-purpose “robot brain” capable of powering a wide variety of robotic hardware across different commercial and industrial applications.
The decision to seek external capital makes Robbyant the fourth major unit within Ant Group to pursue independent fundraising, following in the footsteps of Ant International, OceanBase, and Ant Digital Technologies. This strategic move is driven by a combination of internal resource constraints and external market opportunities. Local media reports indicate that Ant Group’s broader, company-wide push into generative AI has squeezed internal computing budgets, prompting Robbyant to look outward for the capital necessary to sustain its computationally intensive research and development. Simultaneously, the embodied AI sector in China is experiencing a massive influx of venture capital, creating an ideal environment for a high-profile spin-off to secure significant financial backing.
(Related: Ant Group’s Profit Plunges 79% as It Pivots Aggressively to AI with Trillion-Parameter Model Release)
The LingBot Foundation Model Family
At the core of Robbyant’s technological offering is the LingBot AI foundation model family, which serves as the cognitive engine for its embodied intelligence platform. Last month, the division released the second generation of this suite, introducing specialized tools designed to enhance a robot’s ability to perceive, understand, and interact with the physical world. The updated lineup includes LingBot-Vision and LingBot-Depth 2.0, which are engineered for advanced spatial perception and environmental mapping. More notably, the release featured LingBot-VA 2.0, a predictive model that analyzes how a physical scene is likely to evolve over time and determines the optimal sequence of actions a robot should take within that dynamic environment.
By focusing on the “brain” rather than the “body,” Robbyant is positioning itself as a foundational software provider in the robotics ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with hardware manufacturers building bipedal humanoids or industrial robotic arms, the company aims to supply the underlying intelligence that makes these machines autonomous and adaptable.
A Robbyant spokesperson confirmed that the division will remain focused on developing technologies designed specifically for embodied AI, with the ultimate goal of accelerating commercial deployment across various sectors. This software-first approach allows Robbyant to partner with multiple hardware vendors, potentially establishing its LingBot models as a standard operating system for next-generation robotics.
(Related: China’s Humanoid Robot Models Exceed 400, Surpassing Half of Global Total)
Ant Group’s Restructuring Strategy
The spin-off and independent financing of Robbyant is part of a broader structural transformation occurring across Ant Group. In 2024, the parent company announced a comprehensive restructuring plan designed to give its most promising technology divisions greater autonomy and agility. Under this new framework, units like Robbyant are granted their own independent boards of directors, distinct operating structures, and tailored employee stock option programs, while remaining subsidiaries of the larger Ant Group ecosystem. This decentralized approach is intended to foster innovation, attract top-tier talent, and allow these divisions to respond more rapidly to shifting market dynamics without being bogged down by the bureaucracy of a massive conglomerate.
For Robbyant, this independence is crucial for competing in the fast-paced embodied AI sector. The ability to offer dedicated stock options is particularly important for recruiting elite AI researchers and robotics engineers, who are currently in extremely high demand across China. Furthermore, operating as an independent entity with external investors provides Robbyant with the flexibility to forge strategic partnerships and pursue commercial opportunities that might have been complicated by its direct affiliation with Ant Group’s core financial services business. The targeted $222 million in funding will provide the necessary runway to scale its engineering team, secure critical compute resources, and aggressively push its LingBot models into the commercial market.
The Race for Embodied Intelligence
Robbyant’s fundraising efforts highlight the intensifying race for dominance in China’s embodied AI sector. The Chinese government has identified humanoid robots and embodied intelligence as critical strategic industries, launching nationwide programs to fast-track development and commercialization. This state-level support has catalyzed a wave of investment and innovation, with dozens of startups and established tech giants vying for market share.
Companies like Unitree Robotics, UBTech, and numerous well-funded startups are rapidly advancing hardware capabilities, creating a massive demand for the sophisticated “robot brains” that Robbyant is developing. The successful integration of advanced AI models with capable robotic bodies is widely viewed as the next major frontier in technological innovation, with profound implications for manufacturing, logistics, and consumer services.
As Robbyant engages with potential investors, the division’s ability to demonstrate real-world commercial viability will be paramount. While the LingBot foundation models represent impressive technical achievements, the true test will be their deployment in complex, unstructured physical environments. If Robbyant can successfully secure its targeted funding and establish strong partnerships with leading hardware manufacturers, it has the potential to become a dominant force in the global robotics software market. The outcome of this fundraising round will serve as a key indicator of investor confidence in both Robbyant’s specific technological approach and the broader commercial potential of China’s rapidly evolving embodied AI ecosystem.
(Related: Morgan Stanley Doubles China Humanoid Robot Forecast Again: 50,000 Units Expected in 2026)