Ant Group Enters Humanoid Robot Market with 12 Strategic Deals
Ant Group, the Alibaba-affiliated fintech giant, has entered the humanoid robot market by leading a 500 million yuan ($73.58 million) funding round in Zeroth, a humanoid robotics company.[1] This investment is the 12th deal in the sector that Ant has made since the beginning of 2025, signaling a strategic push beyond financial technology.[2]
The move matters because it shows Ant Group diversifying into embodied AI and robotics, leveraging its technology base. The company has also released an AI and robotics-friendly version of its Alipay mobile payments service, which could facilitate transactions for autonomous systems.[3]
Investment in Zeroth
Ant Group led a 500 million yuan ($73.58 million) funding round in Zeroth, a company focused on humanoid robotics.[1] This investment is part of a broader strategy, as it represents the 12th company in the humanoid robot sector that Ant has invested in since the beginning of 2025.[2]
Alipay for AI and Robotics
In addition to investments, Ant Group has released an AI and robotics-friendly version of its Alipay mobile payments service.[3] This development suggests an integration of financial technology with robotic systems, potentially enabling new use cases.
Company Profile: Ant Group
Ant Group is an affiliate of Alibaba Group, known for its dominant Alipay platform in China’s digital payments market. The company is now expanding into robotics and embodied AI, as evidenced by its recent deals and product releases.[1][2][3]
Industry Context
The humanoid robot market is attracting significant investment from technology firms. Ant Group’s entry, with 12 strategic deals since early 2025, highlights a trend of fintech companies diversifying into robotics.[2] For more on China’s robotics sector, see China Robotics.
Sources
- CNBC: Alibaba affiliate Ant Group enters the humanoid robot market with 12 deals
- CNBC: Alibaba affiliate Ant Group enters the humanoid robot market with 12 deals
- CNBC: Alibaba affiliate Ant Group enters the humanoid robot market with 12 deals
