The integration of humanoid robots into real-world environments will occur step by step, starting with basic and routine jobs, as stated by Keenon Robotics, a company based in Shanghai. Truly adaptable humanoid robots are still far off.
Established in 2010, Keenon has become the top commercial service robot producer globally, holding a nearly 23 percent shipment market share worldwide last year, as reported by IDC. The company mentioned that it has sold over 100,000 robot units to date, with this year's sales projected to increase by 50 percent.
Although its current robots perform well in delivering items, cleaning, and disinfecting, Keenon's task is to identify practical real-world uses for humanoids, including two models it introduced this year.
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Keenon Robotics showcased two newly introduced bipedal models named XMAN-F1 at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, handing out popcorn to attendees in an exhibition zone. At Keenon's specific booth, a robot was prepared to serve freshly made cocktails to visitors.
At this point, we don't anticipate developing a general-purpose robot," stated Li Tong, founder and CEO of Keenon. "The implementation of humanoid robots will progress step by step, starting with individual tasks and moving towards more complex ones, from limited flexibility to wider skills.
Li mentioned that his immediate objective was to find straightforward tasks for the company's robots as quickly as possible, drawing ideas from Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus, which serves popcorn at its Supercharger station in Los Angeles. He noted that achieving broader adaptability would be a long-term effort.
Keenon is currently carrying out prototype tests with clients, seeking to incorporate its humanoid robots into practical situations like hospitality and delivery services. This method also tackles the issue of limited real-world data for robot training.
At its office located in Shanghai's Pudong area, a small display area showcases different models, including restaurant robots equipped with trays on their bodies and delivery bots that use their interiors for storage. Some are designed for hospital disinfection, transporting medical waste, and automated cleaning. The devices are observed being adjusted as they move along inclines and tight passages.
Robots have become a familiar presence throughout China. For example, in numerous hotels, they deliver meals directly to guest rooms. Li noted that these robots still do not possess enough intelligence, but recent progress in large language models—the technology that powers AI chatbots and assistants—has created new opportunities for robots.
Thanks to artificial intelligence, robots "now possess something akin to a brain," he mentioned. Keenon started a new robotics initiative in 2023, officially pledged to the humanoid design in 2024, and introduced its initial wheeled humanoid robot in March of this year.
Li emphasized Keenon's strengths, such as extensive environmental data gathered over the years and experience in producing electromechanical systems along with efficient manufacturing procedures.
The field of humanoid robotics, commonly known as embodied intelligence, is experiencing significant attention this year. In China, Unitree Robotics' dancing robots captured widespread online interest during the New Year's Eve gala on China Central Television, and their performances at sporting events and technology exhibitions have continually attracted public interest.
Government initiatives and financial investments have further boosted development in the industry.
A new UBS study predicts that the number of humanoid robots worldwide might surpass 300 million by 2050, with an estimated annual demand of 86 million units. The industry's market value could fall between $1.4 trillion and $1.7 trillion, according to the bank, although experts recommended caution in the short term.
Li mentioned that the present excitement in the robotics field is an unavoidable result of swift technological progress, yet he also felt that the industry in China holds considerable strengths in terms of engineering talent concentration and production capacity.
Keenon has secured seven funding rounds, accumulating hundreds of millions of dollars. Prominent backers listed by corporate data tracker Tianyancha include the SoftBank Vision Fund, Alibaba Group Holding's food delivery service Ele.me, Source Code Capital, Yunqi Partners, and Shanghai's state-backed Sci-Tech Innovation Fund.
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Keenon mentioned that they are actively looking into possibilities for a possible initial public offering.
In contrast to more ambitious competitors, Keenon's objectives are practical: it seeks to offer products that efficiently address customer needs. The pricing of its humanoid robots, like its other products, corresponds to local labor expenses.
Several clients signed lease agreements—what Li called "labor contracts"—with monthly fees usually under half the expense of employing local workers, according to the company. This makes Keenon's offerings especially attractive in high-income or aging markets.
"In a sense, we function as a company that outsources labor," Li stated.
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This piece was first published in the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), a top news outlet covering China and Asia.
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