JAKARTA - GigaAI, a Chinese AI and robotics developer, raised USD518 million in funding in three months. Assuming a rate of Rp17,700 per US dollar, its value is around Rp9.17 trillion. This figure shows that investors are getting more serious about eyeing versatile robots for homes and factories.
Yicai Global, quoted Tuesday, June 16, reported that the Beijing-based startup had just received 1 billion yuan in Series B2 funding. Investors who joined include Lion Partners Capital from Singapore, China-Belgium Direct Equity Investment Fund, automotive parts manufacturer Wanxiang Qianchao, and a number of other investors.
The fresh funds will be used to strengthen the data and algorithm system, develop the basic model of physical AGI, and expand the use of GigaAI robots in households and industries.
Physical AGI is general artificial intelligence that works in the physical world, not just on a computer screen. Simply put, this is AI that is installed on a robot so that it can see, understand the situation, and then act.
GigaAI previously raised 1 billion yuan in pre-Series B funding in March and 1.5 billion yuan in Series B1 in April. After the series of funding, the company's valuation reached 10 billion yuan or around USD1.5 billion.
GigaAI was founded in 2023. The company is led by Huang Guan, founder and CEO who previously headed visual perception technology at Horizon Robotics, a chip company for autonomous vehicles.
The company is developing two main models, namely GigaWorld and GigaBrain. GigaWorld is used to build a simulation or picture of the world for robots. GigaBrain helps robots understand the situation and determine actions.
The two technologies are the basis for the SeeLight S1 home robot and the Maker H01 industrial robot.
SeeLight S1 has received about 100 orders and is scheduled to start mass delivery in the next quarter. GigaAI is also preparing SeeLight S2, a new generation of versatile home robots scheduled to launch in the third quarter.
In the industrial sector, GigaAI in April collaborated with FAW Tooling Die Technology, a unit of the FAW Group, to use Maker H01 in the factory. Tasks include unpacking boxes and transporting goods between areas.
Earlier this month, GigaAI also signed an agreement with Longsheng Technology, an automotive parts manufacturer based in Wuxi. Through this cooperation, 1,000 Maker series multipurpose robots will be used in industrial environments in the next three years.
This large funding shows the direction of the AI market is becoming clearer. Investors are not only hunting for conversational AI, but also AI that can enter homes, warehouses, and factory floors.
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