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

Jack Ma-backed Ant Group has officially introduced its first humanoid robot, R1, at two major tech events this month in Berlin and Shanghai. At the IFA 2025 in Berlin on September 6, the robot was shown cooking shrimp in a mock kitchen. 

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.

Specs and early clients

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. 

Instead, it is bundled into broader “scenario solutions” for businesses and institutions. A second-generation model is already in development.

Building a robotics presence

Ant Lingbo Technology was established in late 2024 in Shanghai and officially launched in March 2025 in the Pudong District, with senior officials and Ant Group executives in attendance. A second base was set up in Hangzhou in August.

“We are newcomers to this field, focusing on developing intelligence,” said Zhu Xing, CEO of Robbyant.

“Ant Group has continued to invest in life services, including public welfare, healthcare, and finance. Robbyant expects to leverage embodied intelligence to extend the services Ant provides in the digital world more effectively into the physical world.”

The company is running product tests in selected application areas this year, including community centers and restaurants.

The Inclusion Conference also attracted researchers from Tsinghua University, the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Lab, and robotics start-ups such as Galaxea, Galbot, and Linkerbot.

Competition in humanoid robotics

Ant’s move into humanoid robots comes as competition in the field heats up. Companies like Unitree Robotics and Tesla are working on similar technology, aiming to combine advances in AI with robotics.

As reported by the South China Morning Post, Unitree’s founder, Wang Xingxing, said at the conference opening, “The hardware for robot bodies is already sufficient.”

“The real bottleneck lies in embodied intelligence models, whose capabilities are still far from adequate. We are on the eve of an explosive phase of growth where AI can truly be put to work,” he added.

Ant Group is also developing its proprietary Bailing large language model, designed to train efficiently on domestic GPUs. This software effort, combined with R1, reflects the company’s goal to merge advanced AI with practical applications.

While the company has not announced a launch date or price point for R1, its presence at high-profile events signals Ant’s intent to compete in embodied AI. For now, the robot’s real-world usefulness remains to be tested outside of controlled demos.