The landscape of embodied intelligence is shifting dramatically as major industry players rally to capitalize on emerging opportunitiesAnt Group, a notable giant in the tech ecosystem, has recently advertised a variety of positions focused on this domain, further solidifying its commitment to advancing embodied intelligence initiativesAs of 2024, their efforts were already underway, signaling an aggressive push into artificial intelligence (AI) investmentsThe company established Ant Lingbo Technology Co., Ltd. last year, dedicated to researching and developing technologies and products within the sphere of embodied intelligence.

In recent years, the proliferation of large language models has sparked renewed interest in embodied intelligence, with humanoid robots poised to take center stage as a practical example of this technologyA key player in this burgeoning space, DeepSeek, is gaining traction by offering low-cost, high-efficiency solutions that bolster this emerging field.

During an interview, Xu Bin, General Manager of the National Local Co-Construction Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, expressed optimism about the sector's future, stating: "Humanoid robots are largely considered as embodied operational large modelsThe path forward was once muddied by high costs that deterred manyNow, with clearer direction and the impetus to optimize model architectures and training methods, we can expect to see accelerated application." This suggests that previous barriers to entry are being dismantled as innovation drives the sector forward.

The revival of embodied intelligence is not simply a passing fad; the concept is much broader than humanoid robots aloneWhile both are interrelated, embodied intelligence encompasses intelligent systems that perceive and act based on a physical body (the agent), emphasizing the synergy of body and intelligenceThe core of this field lies in the intricate connection between physical presence and cognitive processing.

Since 2024, there has been a notable surge in funding for startups focusing on embodied intelligence, with companies like Star Motion Era, Star Sea Map, and Qianxun Intelligent announcing significant financing rounds

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On February 17, the robotics firm Zivariable announced that it had completed a substantial Pre-A++ funding roundThe founder and CEO, Wang Qian, posited that the current state of embodied intelligence mirrors the early days of GPT-2, suggesting that by late 2025 or early 2026, we may see the emergence of a groundbreaking embodied intelligence model akin to GPT-3.

The race in embodied intelligence is intensifying, with various tech giants already establishing their foothold in the spaceBefore Ant Group’s recent announcement, numerous other industry leaders had been crafting their strategies for entering this dynamic market.

From the investigation conducted by reporters, it is evident that major companies are primarily entering the field through strategic investments and integration of large models rather than through grassroots developmentFor example, Alibaba’s Hangzhou Haoyue Enterprise Management Co., Ltd. has engaged in strategic financing discussions with Zhi Ji Li Ming, while Meituan has previously invested in companies like Galaxy General and Yushu TechnologyTencent also made early investments in robotics firms such as Leju Robotics and UBTECH.

The Huawei Global Embodied Intelligence Industry Innovation Center officially commenced operations in November 2024, aimed at fostering cutting-edge advancements in embodied intelligence technologyDuring its launch, Huawei’s center partnered with 16 companies, including robotics firms like Leju and Tozdar, to promote collaborative innovation and provide comprehensive product and technology exchange services that contribute to the global embodied intelligence supply chain.

Publicly listed companies are also eager to participate in this new wave of innovationOn February 19, Zhongjian Technology reported ongoing collaborations with the H Company (Shenzhen) aiming to enhance embodied intelligence capabilitiesRecently, they founded Shenzhen Huazhijian Robot Technology Co., Ltd., signifying a strategic move towards advancing this field.

Tianqi Co., Ltd. announced a joint venture agreement with Beijing Galaxy General Robotics to establish Tianqi Galaxy Robot Co., Ltd

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This collaboration seeks to pool resources toward the scaled application of embodied intelligence models and robotics in the automotive sector.

The catalyst for this current wave of enthusiasm in embodied intelligence is distinct from previous trendsNotably, the advent of ChatGPT has fundamentally transformed the landscape of AITwo pivotal outcomes have emerged from this technology concerning robotics: first, traditionally challenging areas like planning, reasoning, and language interaction have witnessed remarkable advancements; second, these developments provide a methodological framework to address the fundamental challenges in robotic operations.

A high-level executive at an embodied intelligence firm in Beijing echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the critical role that the reasoning capabilities achieved through ChatGPT represent for humanoid robotsFor instance, in the context of locomotion, intricate tasks that require thoughtful execution and planning can leverage large model training to enhance the versatility and generalizability of humanoid robots.

Industry experts believe that large models, exemplified by DeepSeek, have the potential to accelerate the evolution of humanoid robotics significantlyWith DeepSeek's emerging global presence, various industries are evaluating their prospects, and several humanoid robotics companies are actively exploring potential applications of this technology.

UBTECH, the "first stock" in the humanoid robotics sphere, is currently testing the effectiveness of DeepSeek technology within its humanoid robot applicationsThese tests encompass multi-modal human-machine interactions, command comprehension in complex environments, and task decomposition and planning in industrial settingsBy harnessing the deep thoughtful capabilities of reasoning models, UBTECH aspires to tackle complex tasks, refining humanoid robots to approximate human-like thought processes and behaviors.

Another company, Junpu Intelligent, has also integrated the DeepSeek model into its research and application efforts, reporting a 40% improvement in instruction planning capabilities and a 20% decrease in instances of 'hallucination' post-implementation

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