Ant Group, the Chinese fintech giant, has made a bold move into the humanoid robot sector with the launch of a new subsidiary, marking its latest venture in artificial intelligence (AI) beyond financial technology.
Shanghai Ant Lingbo Technology Co., Ltd., established in late 2024 with a registered capital of 100 million yuan (approximately US$14 million), has initiated an aggressive recruitment campaign for its facilities in Shanghai and Hangzhou.
According to industry experts, Ant’s technological strategy appears to focus on three main pillars: hardware autonomy, emphasising mechanical structure design and drive system development; domestic operating system development, including building underlying software frameworks and developer ecosystems; and intelligent motion control for stable performance in complex scenarios.
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The move signals Ant Group’s commitment to developing a “self-controlled technology system” in robotics, potentially reducing dependency on external technologies.
This initiative comes as several Chinese tech giants increase their investments in humanoid robots and embodied intelligence.
Market analysts suggest that embodied intelligence, serving as a physical manifestation of AI technology, could potentially transform the service robot market. With major internet companies now entering the field with their own research and development initiatives, competition in China’s humanoid robot sector is expected to intensify significantly.
This expansion into robotics represents a significant diversification for Ant Group, which is primarily known for its digital payment platform Alipay and other financial technology services. The company’s entry into the humanoid robot market could signal a broader trend of fintech companies expanding into advanced technologies beyond their core business areas.
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