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… bitter or sour for their taste.
Setting aside the subjective taste preferences, it’s clear that the collaboration with Black Myth: Wukong has been effective in attracting new customers. Shi told 36Kr that he usually doesn’t drink coffee, only occasionally, and his motivation to wake up at 6 a.m. was purely to get his hands on the limited-edition card.
A similar obsession has gripped a large number of overseas players as well. Since Game Science released the first video about the game four years ago, fans worldwide have eagerly awaited updates. Reaction videos from global gaming YouTubers have been abundant on platforms like YouTube and Bilibili, with the Destiny 2 streamer Aztecross declaring it a potential game of the year after watching the final trailer.
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According to statistics from the Diershoubing app, as of 11:28 p.m. on August 19, Black Myth: Wukong had already become the top-selling single-player game globally, excluding free games, in all major regions except Spain and Poland.
However, the biggest impact Black Myth: Wukong has had on foreign players is cultural.
Unlike Chinese players, who are familiar with the characters from Journey to the West thanks to television shows, cartoons, and the original novel, foreign players find the world of Black Myth: Wukong both strange and fascinating. Before the game’s release, discussions on the gaming subreddit were filled with players diving into the original Journey to the West novel, the 1986 TV adaptation, and even asking questions like, "What is a gourd?" Some Chinese culture enthusiasts have taken it upon themselves to explain the background and nuances to others on various forums.
Clearly, Black Myth: Wukong is not just a successful Chinese game but a triumph for Chinese culture on the global stage. Based on the trajectory of past AAA games, Black Myth: Wukong’s international influence will likely continue to grow beyond the game itself.
"The value chain of AAA games isn’t in the game itself but in the peripherals," a securities analyst, who wished to remain anonymous, told 36Kr. "Compared to many industries, the revenue from the actual game sales is a small portion of the total gross merchandise value (GMV), sometimes as low as 10%."
Whether it's Super Mario, League of Legends, or World of Warcraft, leading games have significant IP extension value, and AAA titles, in particular, may see even more pronounced effects. "Take the Final Fantasy series, for instance. Initially, players mocked the four over-the-top characters, but after the game went global in 2015, the sales of related products skyrocketed, surpassing even Square Enix’s Dragon Quest IP in GMV," the analyst added.
The hardcore and somewhat dark themes of Black Myth: Wukong might also make it easier to resonate with Western audiences. "Compared to past hits like Sword of Legends and The Legend of Sword and Fairy, Black Myth: Wukong should have an easier time gaining traction overseas," he noted.
This cultural influence abroad is something Luckin desperately needs. Despite having over 20,000 stores, Luckin has been cautious and slow in its international expansion, with the brand’s popularity still largely confined to China.
However, Luckin is accelerating its global expansion plans. According to LatePost, the company plans to embark on a major overseas expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, focusing on Southeast Asia and the US. Before this, the collaboration with Black Myth: Wukong could serve as a crucial stepping stone for its international ambitions.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/2914071396457090">article</a> was written by Yang Yafei for 36Kr.

Black Myth: Wukong frenzy crashes Luckin Coffee’s system, could be key to global expansion

Luckin Coffee

China Tech

Gaming

Creative

China

<h3>Earth Venture Capital invests in Aalo Atomics' USD 27 million Series A round</h3>
Earth Venture Capital (Earth VC), a climate tech venture capital firm based in Vietnam, has invested in the USD 27 million Series A funding round of <a href="https://www.aalo.com/">Aalo Atomics</a>. The round was co-led by 50Y and Valor Equity Partners, with Earth VC participating alongside Harpoon Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Preston-Werner Ventures.
Aalo Atomics is pioneering the development of small nuclear reactors produced in gigafactories to provide scalable, cost-effective clean energy. The company will use the capital to expand its team, establish a new headquarters in Austin, and advance the de-risking of the licensing process.
<h3>Sarana AI secures pre-seed funding</h3>
<a href="https://sarana.ai/">Sarana AI</a>, a human resource tech startup based in Indonesia, has raised an undisclosed amount in a pre-seed funding round led by Fortress Data Services (FDS), according to e27.
The startup will allocate the new capital toward the development of its artificial intelligence-driven platform, which aims to address Indonesia’s urgent need for advanced workforce development.
According to Sarana AI, the platform will help enhance employee retention and enable the upskilling of the workforce in response to evolving industry demands.
<h3>Shift closes AUD 35 million Series D round</h3>
Shift, an Australian provider of credit and payment solutions for businesses, has secured AUD 35 million (USD 23.7 million) in a Series D funding round led by Peak XV Partners. This round follows Shift’s AUD 230 million (USD 155.8 million) asset-backed securitization in May 2024.
The new funds will be used to further develop Shift’s proprietary data models and platforms, as part of its strategy to become the leading provider of credit and payments for Australian businesses.
<h3>Farquhar VC invests in South Korean edtech startup Catius</h3>
Singapore-based Farquhar VC (FVC), a venture capital firm, has invested in South Korean edtech startup <a href="https://catius.io/en/home">Catius</a> via its pre-Series A funding round, according to TechNode Global. The round was jointly led by Smilegate Investments and STIC Ventures.
Catius is the second South Korean startup to join FVC’s portfolio, which is said to include over 40 international startups. FVC has also recently signed partnership agreements with the Goyang Investment Authority and Twin Ventures to support cross-border startup collaborations between South Korea, Singapore, and Southeast Asia.
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<h3>Recent deals completed in China:</h3>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.pelliot.com.cn/">Pelliot</a>, a leading name in outdoor apparel, secured an eight-figure RMB sum in its Series B funding round. Qiming Venture Partners took the lead, with Sinovation Ventures, GSR Ventures, and others following suit. The capital infusion is set to drive innovation in Pelliot's professional and high-end product lines, bolster its offline presence, and refine its global supply chain. Founded in 2012, Pelliot now ranks among the top three in China’s outdoor apparel market. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/2922366634613378">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.uppervoid.com/">Uppervoid</a>, an outdoor apparel brand blending aesthetics with cutting-edge materials, has landed an eight-figure RMB sum in its latest funding round. One Capital led the investment, with Meier Fashion stepping in as a strategic investor. Established in 2021, Uppervoid is on a mission to reconnect people with nature through meticulously crafted outdoor gear. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/2918585522166657">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.easyya.com/">EasyYa</a>, a cross-border e-commerce platform, has pulled in RMB 150 million (USD 21.1 million) in new funding. A CICC Capital-managed fund spearheaded the round, joined by GSR United Capital, Guangzhou Tianhe Fund, and Beijing Yuanyi. The funds are earmarked for enhancing its factory system, expanding selection tools on TikTok, and broadening its international channels. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/2916674306988681">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Ruicycle, a technology company specializing in lithium battery recycling, has locked in an eight-figure RMB sum during its Series C round. The round saw participation from Guoxin Venture Capital, Legend Capital Management, and Hidden Hill Capital. The fresh capital will fuel market expansion and tech development. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/2919488675191686">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="http://www.we-i-build.com/">Weibuild (Weijian Technology)</a>, a smart construction innovator, has amassed over RMB 120 million (USD 16.9 million) across two funding rounds at the Series A++ and A+++ stages. Xiamen C&amp;D and Unicorn Capital Partners led the rounds, respectively, with RayVC and Linear Capital joining in. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/2918546156804742">36Kr</a></li>
</ul>
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<h3>Every Half, EcoSpirits, Return Helper, and more led last Friday’s headlines:</h3>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.everyhalf.vn/en">Every Half Coffee Roasters</a>, a specialty coffee brand in Vietnam, secured an undisclosed amount in initial funding, led by Openspace Ventures, with participation from DSG Consumer Partners.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://ecospirits.global/">EcoSpirits (stylized as “ecoSPIRITS”)</a>, a Singapore-based innovator in circular packaging technology, raised USD 3 million in trade finance from DBS Bank, marking one of the region’s first green loans for the packaging industry.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.returnhelper.com/">Return Helper</a>, a Hong Kong-based startup specializing in managing cross-border e-commerce returns, raised USD 1.8 million in a new funding round led by Hirac Fund, with Pegatron Venture Capital also participating.</li>
</ul>
If there are any news or updates you'd like us to feature, get in touch with us at: <a href="mailto:hello@kr-asia.com">hello@kr-asia.com</a>.
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Deals in brief: Earth VC invests in Aalo Atomics, Sarana AI secures pre-seed funding, five China deals, and more

Venture Capital

Private Equity

Investment

Merger &amp; Acquisition

Singapore

Vietnam

Indonesia

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Oceania

On August 22, Bilibili unveiled its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2024. Bilibili’s total revenue for the quarter climbed 16% YoY to RMB 6.13 billion (USD 861 million), with advertising revenue surging 30% and gaming revenue up 13%.
The expansion of high-margin segments like advertising and gaming drove a 49% year-on-year (YoY) increase in Bilibili’s gross profit, which reached a margin of 29.9%—the eighth consecutive quarter of improvement. Additionally, Bilibili generated RMB 1.75 billion (USD 245.8 million) in positive operating cash flow this quarter, bringing the first half’s cumulative positive cash flow to RMB 2.4 billion (USD 337.1 million).
Breaking down the numbers, value-added services accounted for 42% of revenue, advertising contributed 33%, gaming added 17%, and IP derivatives and other businesses made up 8%.
In advertising, second-quarter revenue jumped 30% YoY to RMB 2.04 billion (USD 286.6 million). The first half of the year saw a 50% YoY increase in the number of advertisers on Bilibili, with a significant influx from emerging industries. Notably, over 90% of artificial intelligence companies are now advertising on the platform. Bilibili continued to show robust growth in e-commerce and gaming ads, alongside double-digit YoY gains in newer sectors like online services, AI, and education. The platform’s “open loop” strategy shined during the 618 shopping festival, where transaction volumes soared over 140% YoY, with new customer rates surpassing 70% in maternal care and household daily necessities.
Gaming revenue for the second quarter rose 13% YoY to RMB 1.01 billion (USD 141.9 million). Long-running games like Fate/Grand Order—now in its eighth year—reentered the top ten on iOS game sales charts in July, while Azur Lane saw record user engagement during its seventh anniversary celebration.
Bilibili’s first foray into strategy gaming with Three Kingdoms: Conquer the World made a strong debut, landing third on the iOS game sales chart and maintaining a top-ten position for a month. The game, which returned to third place when its second season launched on August 3, has captured the attention of simulation gaming fans and has quickly become a favorite among younger gamers.
Value-added services also posted steady growth, up 11% YoY to RMB 2.57 billion (USD 361 million). Looking forward, Bilibili plans to deepen the synergy between its live streaming and video ecosystems, leveraging its community’s diverse interests to enrich live streaming content. The premium membership segment continued to grow, with active premium members exceeding 22.3 million by the end of the quarter, over 80% of whom are annual or auto-renewal subscribers.
With the growth of high-margin businesses and improved operational efficiency, Bilibili’s gross profit increased by 49% YoY to RMB 1.8 billion (USD 252.8 million). The gross profit margin rose from 23.1% in the same period last year to 29.9% this quarter, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of margin growth. Adjusted operating loss and adjusted net loss for the quarter narrowed by 69% and 72% YoY, respectively. Additionally, the company generated RMB 1.75 billion in positive operating cash flow during the quarter, contributing to a total positive cash flow of RMB 2.4 billion for the first half of the year.
As of June 30, 2024, Bilibili held RMB 13.9 billion (USD 1.9 billion) in cash, cash equivalents, term deposits, and short-term investments.
User growth remained strong, with average daily active users reaching 102 million in the second quarter, up 6% YoY, while average monthly active users hit 336 million. The average daily time spent on the platform increased from 94 minutes last year to 99 minutes this year.
The platform saw an 18% YoY rise in daily video views, surpassing 4.8 billion views, alongside over 16.5 billion monthly interactions. By the end of the second quarter, 243 million users had passed the platform’s entrance exam, earning “official member” status, with a 12-month retention rate consistently around 80%.
In June, Bilibili marked its 15th anniversary. According to official figures, Bilibili now boasts the highest concentration of young users in China, with over 70% of its users born in the 1990s actively engaging on the platform. Last year, 10 million users logged into Bilibili for more than 360 days.
During the second quarter, Bilibili experienced rapid growth in video views for categories like gaming and knowledge, with technology content views up nearly 30% YoY. Every day, tens of millions of users tuned in for cutting-edge AI content. Meanwhile, viewership for content related to automotives, home decor, and fitness grew over 40% YoY. As demand for cars among young people grows, more than 17 million users now watch automotive content on Bilibili daily. Female users are also showing a strong appetite for content, driving rapid increases in daily views for fashion and beauty, as well as maternal and child care content, the latter seeing over 80% YoY growth.
In the first half of the year, nearly 2.1 million content creators on Bilibili earned income, with total revenue from advertising and value-added services rising 30% YoY. As more users are willing to pay for quality content, creators saw income from classes rise over 40% YoY, with revenue from workshops and fan-funded services posting triple-digit YoY growth.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/2917173524732804">article</a> was written by Wang Yuchan for 36Kr.

Bilibili’s Q2 revenue climbs 16% with robust gains in advertising and gaming

Bilibili

Live Streaming

Video

Content

… href="https://36kr.com/p/2917054388935559">article</a> was written by Xiao Xi for 36Kr.

Ping An Health posts first-ever profit as strategic reforms take hold

Deep Tech

Health Tech

Chinese courts have been handing down a series of judgments related to generative artificial intelligence, indicating how Beijing views the technology and aims to take the lead in setting standards.
In April, a Beijing court made China's first ruling on a person's right to their voice. A voice actor had sued several companies for AI-replicated voice infringement. The court found that some of the companies had indeed infringed on the plaintiff's rights and ordered them to pay RMB 250,000 (USD 35,000) in damages.
China's Civil Code already included protections for one's own voice, but this was the first decision applied to AI.
Concerns over AI-generated voices are far from unique to China. In the US, actress Scarlett Johansson complained that the voice function of OpenAI's ChatGPT sounded "eerily similar" to her. The company ultimately stopped using the voice.
In Japan, "AI covers" that generate digital versions of voice actors and singers without permission are rampant. The government has begun to create rules, but the debate over the rights to AI-generated voices has only just started.
Chinese courts, meanwhile, have been setting other precedents.
In February, a court in Guangzhou found that the operator of a generative AI service that allows users to create images resembling the popular Japanese character Ultraman had infringed on copyrights and breached its duty of care.
The judgment was based on the "Interim Measures for the Management of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services," which came into force in August 2023 as the world's first law to comprehensively regulate generative AI.
In another landmark AI-related intellectual property case, a Beijing court in November 2023 recognized the copyright of AI-created images themselves.
An individual plaintiff had posted an image of a woman titled "A gentle spring breeze" on a social network, after creating it with a generative AI service that turns commands into pictures. Then, another person posted it without the plaintiff's permission. The court decided that the plaintiff held the copyright of the image and ordered the defendant to pay RMB 500 (USD 70) in damages.
The judges reasoned that the image had been generated through the creativity of the plaintiff's prompts.
Conversely, last year, a US court ruled that AI artwork was not eligible for copyright registration. The conflicting rulings underscore that the global debate over how to treat images and other work produced by AI is heating up.
Takashi Nakazaki, a Japanese attorney who specializes in AI-related law, said that, in Europe, "the direction of the discussion is not clear." In Japan, the copyrightability of a work is determined by factors such as the content of the instructions.
Worldwide, there are over 1,000 rules regarding AI, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), but many of the discussions are still in their infancy. With many countries keen to shape AI standards to their benefit, Chinese courts' active rulings and the government's rush to develop laws have "become impossible to ignore," said Yoshifumi Onodera, a Japanese lawyer versed in Chinese law.
There is little doubt about China's determination to win the AI race. The government and private companies are working together to develop the technology. According to a survey published by Stanford University in April, Chinese companies and other entities held 61.1% of the world's AI patents filed in 2022, well ahead of the US, at 20.9%.
China seeks not only to produce the technology but to harness it for practical use. The 14th five-year plan announced by the Chinese government for the period from 2021–2025 calls for the "integration" of digital technologies such as AI with society. Generative AI is already spreading in all kinds of industries, from inspections of automobile parts to the creation of study plans for cram schools, according to Li Zhihui, an expert at Japan's Nomura Research Institute who monitors AI technology in China.
Li suggested the court cases are a reflection of this growing enthusiasm. "The social implementation of generative AI is progressing rapidly, and legal issues are also becoming apparent," Li said.
This article first appeared on <a tabindex="0" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Artificial-intelligence/China-court-rulings-on-AI-accelerate-race-to-set-standards2" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-token-index="1">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing <a tabindex="0" href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-token-index="3">partnership with Nikkei</a>.

China court rulings on AI accelerate race to set standards

Artificial intelligence

… Bengaluru-based healthcare company, has raised INR 1.69 billion (USD 20.1 million) in a funding round led by Khosla Ventures. The round also saw participation from Pathfinder, Mercury Fund, and others. The funds will be used to expand its subscription-based health services and employee stock option pool. —Entrackr</li>
<li aria-level="1">FlexiLoans, a Mumbai-based lender focusing on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), has secured INR 750 million (USD 8.9 million) via non-convertible debentures from JM Financial. The debentures carry a coupon rate of 12.05% per annum with a tenure of 24 months. FlexiLoans plans to use the funds for ongoing business operations. —Entrackr</li>
</ul>
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<h3>SleekFlow, Food Empire, FinKnight, and more led Wednesday’s headlines:</h3>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://sleekflow.io/">SleekFlow</a>, a Singapore-based provider of an omnichannel customer engagement platform, has bagged USD 7 million in a Series A+ funding round led by Atinum Investment. This round also saw participation from existing investors AEF Greater Bay Area Fund, managed by Gobi Partners GBA and Transcend Capital Partners, along with new investor Moses Tsang, former general partner at Goldman Sachs.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Food Empire Holdings, a F&amp;B manufacturing and distribution enterprise based in Singapore, has received a USD 40 million capital injection from Ikhlas Capital.</li>
<li aria-level="1">FinKnight, a rebranded financial advisory firm formerly known as Beetle Knight Advisory, has secured an undisclosed sum of investment from First Move and a Gobi Partners affiliate.</li>
</ul>
If there are any news or updates you'd like us to feature, get in touch with us at: <a href="mailto:hello@kr-asia.com">hello@kr-asia.com</a>.

Deals in brief: Every Half secures funding to elevate Vietnamese specialty coffee, DBS Bank issues green loan to EcoSpirits, nine China and India deals, and more

India

… this seemingly minor wait can disrupt their learning continuity and focus—something any parent who has helped with homework can easily relate to.
Is it possible to eliminate boot time and deliver instant results anytime, anywhere? The answer is yes, but it’s a complex challenge, particularly for hardware like dictionary pens, which are highly sensitive to power consumption and performance. The D1 Pro team spent an entire year in R&amp;D, ultimately achieving an optimal balance between software and hardware performance, power consumption, response speed, and overall cost. This enables the D1 Pro to provide quick scans and rapid results, helping to maintain children’s focus during learning sessions.
Beyond performance, the Alpha Egg team has invested heavily in acquiring high-quality educational content. The D1 Pro comes preloaded with 82 authoritative, licensed dictionaries, covering all subjects from elementary to high school. The built-in translation, picture books, textbooks, and over 170,000 textbook sentences have been meticulously annotated by a team of three editors over six months, ensuring the utmost professionalism and reliability of the educational content while minimizing the risk of inaccuracies often seen in current large language models (LLMs).
The D1 Pro also features a larger, high-definition screen measuring 3.48 inches, with German TUV Rheinland eye protection certification. Responding to user feedback, it incorporates soft lighting from professional eye-protection desk lamps into the scanning pen head, offering gentler, more eye-friendly illumination that reduces the strain on children’s eyes from prolonged screen and lamp exposure.
Every aspect of the D1 Pro is infused with a parent’s concern, and this care is embedded in its AI.
According to data from China’s Ministry of Education, the number of students enrolled in formal education in China reached a record high of 293 million in 2022, an increase of 17 million compared to 2018. If current population trends continue, this growth is expected to persist for at least another decade.
In this highly competitive market, traditional manufacturers, K12 education companies, AI startups, and internet giants are all vying for a share. As one player exits, another enters, and the battles are relentless. New players emerge daily, while others withdraw just as quickly.
Yet, companies like Toycloud, which have remained steadfast in this arena for 15 years, are a rare breed.
This Q4, Toycloud is set to launch a new Go-playing robot. According to data from the Chinese Weiqi Association, there are currently about 60 million Go players in China, with 100,000 Go professionals and over 3 million young people learning Go each year. However, Go training institutions and resources are mostly concentrated in first-tier cities, leaving many children with limited opportunities for face-to-face training with a teacher, instead spending long hours staring at a computer screen.
"Many children give up learning Go because they worry about getting nearsighted. Our Go robot aims to change that," Wu told 36Kr.
Once again, Toycloud is venturing into a new category with an entirely new hardware product. The Go robot presents a unique challenge, requiring precise computer vision and servo motor technology, and it targets a more specialized application scenario.
Alpha Egg is about to face another new challenge—but so what?
China’s smart hardware industry has always been fiercely competitive, especially in the children’s hardware market. Even in 2024, countless battles are still being fought daily in this space.
From mobile phones to MP3 players, MP4 players, children’s toys, watches, robots, speakers, wireless earphones, learning devices, and dictionary pens—everything you can think of, and even things you can’t, is here.
Looking back at Toycloud’s 15-year journey, if there’s a strategy that has guided them, it’s this: stay grounded in product development, perfect the simple things, and always choose the difficult but right path.
And most importantly, keep a parent’s heart in everything you do, pouring genuine love and care into every product.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/2908646639213187">article</a> was written by Xiao Xi for 36Kr.

Toycloud: The hidden unicorn rewriting the rules in children’s tech

Artificial Intelligence

Hardware

Edtech

On August 18, <a href="https://www.agibot.com/">Agibot</a> officially unveiled its latest lineup of humanoid robots, marking a significant milestone for the company. After a year of anticipation, five new models were introduced: Expedition A2, Expedition A2-W, Expedition A2-Max, Lingxi X1, and Lingxi X1-W.
Agibot, founded by Zhi Huijun—a former prodigy at Huawei and now a popular figure on Bilibili with 2.5 million followers—has quickly become a leading name in the robotics industry. Since its inception in February 2023, the company has attracted substantial investment, securing six rounds of financing from notable backers like HongShan, Baidu, and SAIC Motor. These investments have driven Agibot’s valuation to over RMB 7 billion (USD 960 million).
With these new releases, Agibot aims to redefine the capabilities of humanoid robots. The Expedition series, initially conceived as a bipedal robot, now includes wheeled and heavy-load versions, broadening its application scope significantly.
Central to the innovation in the Expedition A2 model are advancements in four key areas: power, perception, communication, and control.
In terms of power, Agibot has optimized its PowerFlow joint modules, enhancing both reliability and stability. The robot’s dexterous hand now boasts 19 degrees of freedom (DOF), up from the previous 11, enabling it to perform more intricate and precise tasks. A video demonstration during the press event highlighted this capability, showing the hand executing everyday tasks such as unpacking deliveries and pouring water, as well as delicate operations like threading a needle—showcasing the robot's heightened precision.
Agibot has also improved the robot's perception abilities by incorporating multimodal sensing with microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology, significantly boosting the tactile sensitivity of the robot’s hand.
On the control side, the Expedition A2-W is outfitted with two high-precision, force-controlled dual arms, each with 7 DOF, achieving industrial-grade accuracy in repetitive tasks.
For communication, Agibot introduced AimRT, a lightweight and high-performance communication framework designed specifically for intelligent robots. This in-house development surpasses third-party middleware like ROS in terms of performance, stability, and deployment efficiency, while maintaining compatibility with existing ROS and ROS 2 systems.
During the event, Zhi emphasized that Agibot has been focusing on progressive innovation over the past year, refining core components, and restructuring system solutions based on the Expedition A1 prototype. These efforts have paved the way for the robots' mass production, setting the stage for commercial deployment.
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However, Zhi pointed out that optimizing the robot's physical design is just the beginning. The true intelligence of a humanoid robot resides in its "brain," which requires not only advanced computing and control capabilities but also the ability to continuously learn and adapt, enabling autonomous improvement in real-world applications.
"Humanoid robots are extraordinarily complex systems, and their manufacturing challenges span nearly the entire spectrum of the industry," Zhi noted during the press conference.
Over the past year, Agibot has worked tirelessly to refine its integration of hardware and software, supply chain management, manufacturing processes, and production workflows. These efforts have transitioned the Expedition series from prototype to mass production, a significant milestone in the commercialization of humanoid robots.
Zhi also announced that Agibot’s X-Lab will soon open-source most of the design materials for the Lingxi X1 robot, including comprehensive design blueprints (excluding critical components), software frameworks, middleware, and motion control source codes.
Additionally, Agibot plans to release the industry’s first embodied dataset in the fourth quarter. This dataset will include one million real-world data points and tens of millions of simulated data points, aiming to support further innovation and development in the embodied intelligence industry.
As the event concluded, Zhi underscored that the true value of technology lies in its ability to impact human life profoundly. Agibot’s mission, he explained, goes beyond mere technological advancement: the company seeks to accelerate industry innovation through an open ecosystem and collaborative efforts, ultimately integrating robots into everyday life.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/2911230419147648">article</a> was written by Annabella Chang for 36Kr.

Agibot unveils five humanoid robots, commercialization on the horizon

China's top chipmaker says the country's push to localize semiconductor supplies has boosted orders and improved pricing in recent months and will continue to provide a tailwind for the company for the rest of the year.
Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) said geopolitical uncertainties were fueling the rush to onshore production.
"Due to the disruption and changes in a supply chain broken by geopolitics, some customers had the opportunity to penetrate into the industrial [value] chain," co-CEO Zhao Haijun told investors on August 9. "This brought incremental demand to the company in response to the changing market."
China's largest contract chipmaker said it has received some "rush orders" and requests to make some shipments earlier than planned, the CEO added. Zhao said the push for localization has also boosted demand from some overseas chip developers seeking to tap the Chinese market and maintain their market share.
"Some overseas customers need to build up inventory so as to stabilize their market share and hedge against the market risks," Zhao said. "We do expect this localization push will last till the end of this year," he added.
But visibility for the final quarter of 2024 was still unclear, he added, as many tech companies are reviewing their demand levels, with some requesting adjustments to their order for the period. "We have received requests to adjust orders downward a bit for chips used in televisions, smart speakers, and smartphones," Zhao said. "That's because they always book a bit more in the first half and adjust according to real demand."
Demand for certain industrial and automotive-related chips has not yet recovered from its downturn, he added.
SMIC's revenue in the April-June quarter grew 21.8% on the year to USD 1.9 billion. However, gross margin contracted to 13.9% from 20.3% due to intensifying price competition in certain less-advanced chips and increased investment in cutting-edge chip production. Net profit fell 59.1% year-on-year to USD 164.5 million.
From a quarterly perspective, SMIC's revenue and gross margin both improved better than the company's guidance. Its production utilization rate also improved to 85.2% in the second quarter from 80.2% in the first quarter.
For the current quarter, the CEO said SMIC forecasts its revenue will grow 13–15% quarterly and its gross margin will improve to between 18–20%.
Zhao said SMIC's 12-inch wafer capacity has been in short supply and prices are trending up due to demand for localization. Its newly added capacity, he said, has been "effectively utilized."
"Our 12-inch wafer capacity has been nearly fully loaded … Since the second quarter of this year, the price is only going up, not down," he said.
SMIC is accelerating its capacity expansion to meet this robust localization demand, Zhao said. "Our speed for construction and our requests to our suppliers are all as soon as possible. We estimate our 12-inch capacity will increase by 60,000 wafers by the end of this year, which is faster than our usual annual 30,000–50,000 wafer expansion plans."
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SMIC says China's localization push is boosting chip demand

Semiconductors