Ant Group debuts R1 humanoid robot

Ant Group has unveiled its first humanoid robot, R1, at recent tech events in Berlin and Shanghai.

The robot was demonstrated cooking shrimp at Berlin’s IFA 2025 event, and later appeared at the Inclusion Conference in Shanghai.

Ant Group operates Robbyant, also known as Shanghai Ant Lingbo Technology, which is developing the robot.

The company said potential uses for R1 include kitchen assistance, healthcare support, and tour guiding.

No launch date or pricing details have been shared, and R1 is reportedly being tested in community centers and restaurants.

🔗 Source: The Verge

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Despite high-profile humanoid robot demonstrations like Ant’s R1, investment patterns show a different reality in the robotics sector.
In Q1 2025, robotics startups secured over $2.26 billion in funding, but 70% of that investment went to warehouse and industrial automation rather than humanoid robots1.
This funding distribution suggests that while companies like Ant Group showcase humanoid robots at tech conferences, investors remain focused on robotics applications with proven commercial viability.
The disconnect becomes more apparent when considering that the humanoid robot market is projected to reach $38 billion by 2035, yet current funding heavily favors established industrial applications2.
Even well-funded humanoid ventures face questions about economic viability, with industry analysts noting that humanoid robots in sectors like automotive and warehousing still face significant challenges3.

Ant’s R1 robot placing objects at “glacial” speed reflects ongoing challenges that have plagued robotics for decades, particularly in energy storage and real-time AI integration.
Core robotics challenges identified in 2018—including power and energy limitations, navigation in unstructured environments, and AI integration—remain significant barriers today4.
The slow, controlled demonstration of R1’s cooking capabilities highlights persistent issues with autonomous navigation and task execution that require robots to operate reliably in unpredictable real-world environments4.
Energy storage continues to be a critical limitation for mobile robots, affecting their ability to perform extended tasks without frequent recharging—a key factor in their commercial viability4.