Robot Industry Daily Report (April 8): Robot Industry Boom and Innovations in Automation and AI

Robot Industry Daily (04.08): Robot Industry Explosion | Automation | Intelligent Robots | Industrial Robots | World Artificial Intelligence Conference

Date: April 9, 2026, 16:05:03

Source: Yiou

In recent developments, Xiaomi has launched a new delivery service for large items, including home appliances, across 50 cities in an effort to enhance consumer delivery experiences. Additionally, Li Auto has invested in Xieyue Intelligence, a company that focuses on smart home robotics, which recently completed its angel round of financing with support from Yuanjing Capital and Li Auto. Founded by Chen Wei, former Chief Scientist of AI at Li Auto, and Zhang Xiao, the company aims to create the next generation of intelligent devices that learn sustainably and integrate seamlessly into family life.

Meanwhile, Physical Intelligence (PI), a U.S. company specializing in embodied intelligence, has achieved a valuation of 38.5 billion yuan by providing robot models rather than physical robots. Co-founder Sergey Levine highlighted the complexities of data in the robotics industry, emphasizing the necessity of creating practical systems capable of executing diverse tasks and continuously collecting data. PI focuses on developing a foundational system akin to an operating system to support various hardware types, stressing the importance of model algorithms for the integration of robots into homes.

In other news, JD.com is unlocking new pathways for domestic AI manufacturing as it celebrates the 40th anniversary of the national 863 program in 2026. The company’s technology lead emphasized that AI development should address industry pain points and create value. JD has launched the open-source JoyAI-Image-Edit model to tackle challenges in AI image editing and introduced the JoyAI-LLMFlash model to optimize token efficiency and reduce costs.

Furthermore, JD Cloud is set to establish the world’s largest center for data collection focused on embodied intelligence to gain a competitive edge in AI development.

Industry Highlights: In the latest news, Thousand Seek Intelligence has completed a new round of financing worth 1 billion yuan, surpassing a valuation of 10 billion yuan. Yushut Technology has received approval for its IPO application on the Science and Technology Innovation Board.

In the financial sector, China’s six major state-owned banks have reported that their technology loan balance has exceeded 23.3 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth rate exceeding 15%. The banks are transitioning to a comprehensive service system with a focus on the AI sector. OpenAI has successfully raised 122 billion dollars in funding, and Yushut Technology aims to be the first company globally to achieve mass production and profitability of humanoid robots.

The 2026 China Humanoid Robot Industry Development Blue Paper will be released on May 18 at the 2026 High-Technology Humanoid Robot Technology Application Summit. This report, compiled by the High-Tech Robot Industry Research Institute, aims to provide a panoramic navigation map for the industry, covering technological routes, core components, application scenarios, and competitive regions, while analyzing the current state and future trends of the industry chain.

Innovative Development: Youriqi Robotics has introduced its third-generation home service robot, “Black Panther,” which has garnered over ten million views on social media. The founder, Yang Fengyu, a Yale Ph.D. born in the 2000s, leads the team in designing a robot that can perform household tasks such as cooking and cleaning. The company has completed five rounds of financing, gaining market recognition for its technical and commercial capabilities.

POSCO, a South Korean steel giant, has invested 7 billion won into the collaborative robotics firm Brils to jointly develop automated operational systems and smart factories, aiming to enhance production efficiency and safety.

Labor Market Trends: Three cities in Zhejiang have released a list of urgently needed skilled professions, including industrial robot system operators and drone pilots, reflecting the region’s manufacturing upgrade and transformation efforts.

In summary, the robotics industry is witnessing significant advancements and investments, paving the way for a promising future in automation and intelligent systems.