Ant Group Unveils R1: A Versatile Humanoid Robot Challenging Tesla's Optimus

Meet R1, a Chinese tech giant's rival to Tesla's Optimus robot

Chinese tech behemoth Ant Group, which owns payment platform Alipay, has been showing off its first humanoid robot at tech conferences this month. It joins a growing wave of companies carving out space along a fresh frontier in automation by combining artificial intelligence with physical tech. Videos and news reports show Robbyant's R1 robot cooking for audiences at the IFA 2025 tech show in Berlin last week. What was on the menu? Shrimp, reportedly. The company, an arm of Jack Ma-backed Ant Group, has also been parading the human-shaped bot at the 2025 Inclusion Conference this week in Shanghai, according to Bloomberg. Helping out in the kitchen is the first of many potential use cases for R1, Robbyant says. The company, also known as Shanghai Ant Lingbo Technology Co., says the bot could be used as a companion or caregiver robot in healthcare, or as a robotic tour guide in the travel industry. The company has not announced a launch date or price point for the bot and is reportedly testing it in community centers and restaurants. It would be wise to view claims of R1's performance skeptically until the bot can be seen acting on its own in the real world, though this video from IFA doesn't set expectations too high, as R1 places a box on a counter at a pace so glacial it makes a sloth seem speedy: Ant joins the likes of Elon Musk's Tesla in doubling down on AI-powered robotics. While the field has been plagued with hyped-up promises and underwhelmingly slow progress on even basic tasks for decades, many believe that software advances will finally help the field overcome decades of slow and deeply underwhelming progress.

Jack Ma-backed firm unveils humanoid robot that can cook shrimp

Days later, it was featured at the Inclusion Conference in Shanghai on Thursday, where one model was on display while another demonstrated kitchen skills for visitors. The robot was developed by Ant Lingbo Technology, also called Robbyant, the robotics arm of Ant Group. The company says that R1 can handle simple cooking, be a tour guide, or even provide basic medical consultations. The demonstrations are part of Ant's push to show that its artificial intelligence expertise can extend beyond digital services and into real-world machines. The first-generation R1 weighs about 243 pounds (110 kilograms), stands between 5.2 and 5.7 feet (1.6 and 1.75 meters) tall, moves at under 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) per second, and has 34 degrees of freedom. According to Ant, the robot can work as a chef, tour guide, or perform remote-controlled tasks. Staff at the Shanghai event confirmed that R1 is already in mass production and has been delivered to early clients such as the Shanghai History Museum. The robot is not being sold as a stand-alone product.

Ant Group unveils their own Tesla Optimus competitor, R1 humanoid robot

Debuting at IFA Berlin and Shanghai's Inclusion Conference, R1 demonstrates early automation potential but shows performance limits. Ant Group, the parent company of Alipay, has introduced its first humanoid robot, named R1, at technology conferences this month. This move positions Ant Group alongside other companies exploring the convergence of artificial intelligence and physical technology in the automation sector. R1, developed by Shanghai Ant Lingbo Technology Co., a subsidiary of Ant Group, was showcased at the IFA 2025 tech show in Berlin. Reports and video footage documented R1 preparing shrimp for attendees. Simultaneously, Bloomberg reported that the same robot was presented at the 2025 Inclusion Conference in Shanghai. According to Robbyant, the robot's applications extend beyond culinary tasks. The company envisions R1 serving as a companion or caregiver in healthcare settings. Furthermore, the robot has been suggested for use as a robotic tour guide within the travel sector. The company has not yet disclosed a launch date or pricing details for R1. Current testing is reportedly taking place in community centers and restaurants. Observations from the IFA 2025 event indicate performance limitations. An example cited R1's slow movement when placing a box on a counter. Ant Group's foray into AI-driven robotics mirrors similar initiatives, for example, Tesla. Despite historical challenges of inflated expectations and gradual advancement, there is optimism that software innovations could accelerate progress in the robotics domain.

Jack Ma's Ant Group Launches R1 Humanoid Robot with Smart AI for Everyday Tasks

The R1 is built to help with real-life tasks. It can act as a tour guide, sort medicine in pharmacies, give basic health advice, and even cook simple meals. The robot's smart system allows it to plan, prepare, and serve food while learning new recipes over time. Unlike many rivals, Ant is not just focused on robot parts, but on the "brain." The R1 runs on the company's large AI model BaiLing, which helps the robot think, learn, and adjust to new jobs. The model is trained on local chips, showing Ant's move toward Chinese-made tech. The robot is made with parts from local suppliers like Ti5 and Galaxea AI. Ant is also talking with and Orbbec to expand support. Experts say building hardware is essential, but a strong AI brain will decide which robot succeeds in the long run.