TLDR: Alibaba Cloud has led a $100 million funding round in X Square Robot, a Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots and AI systems. This investment brings X Square Robot’s total funding to approximately $280 million. The company, founded in 2023, is developing robots for various applications and has released an open-source AI foundation model, signaling a significant push in the rapidly evolving robotics and artificial intelligence sectors.
Beijing, China – September 8, 2025 – Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, has taken the lead in a substantial $100 million funding round for X Square Robot, a burgeoning Chinese startup at the forefront of humanoid robotics. This latest injection of capital elevates X Square Robot’s total funding to an impressive approximately $280 million, underscoring growing investor confidence in the humanoid robot market.
Founded in 2023, Shenzhen-based X Square Robot is dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence systems that empower robots to comprehend instructions and execute tasks autonomously. The company has already unveiled its wheeled humanoid robot, the Quanta X2, designed for diverse applications spanning household assistance, service industries, and industrial operations. This strategic investment by Alibaba Cloud further solidifies Alibaba’s commitment to the advanced technology sector, particularly in robotics and AI.
Beyond Alibaba Cloud, other notable investors participating in X Square Robot’s funding rounds include HongShan, formerly known as Sequoia Capital China, and the prominent food delivery giant Meituan. This broad investor base highlights the widespread interest and perceived potential in X Square Robot’s innovative approach to robotics.
Alibaba’s engagement in robotics and advanced hardware is not new; the tech conglomerate has historically integrated such technologies to bolster its cloud services and e-commerce infrastructure. The company has previously invested in other key players in the field, such as Unitree Robotics, another humanoid robot manufacturer, and Deeproute, a developer of software for autonomous vehicles. Alibaba is also aggressively rolling out new AI models, intensifying competition within China’s AI landscape.
A significant development from X Square Robot is the release of Wall-OSS, an ‘open-source foundation model for embodied AI.’ This initiative allows developers to leverage Wall-OSS for the software development of robots, fostering a collaborative ecosystem for innovation in embodied artificial intelligence.
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Despite these advancements, Yang Qian, Chief Operating Officer of X Square Robot, offered a candid assessment to CNBC, stating that ‘AI for robots still lags behind advancements in generative AI for chat or code generation,’ drawing a comparison to the capabilities seen in ‘ChatGPT 3.5-type’ models. This perspective underscores the ongoing challenges and vast potential for further development in the field of robotic AI.
