AGIBOT X2 at MWC 2026. Photograph: JJxFile / Jorge Jaramillo, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
Insider London has now partnered with AGIBOT as part of our China programme. This week we are bringing this story of engineering and entrepreneurship into our exploration of China’s changing economy.
From Personal Projects to Humanoid Robots
Before Peng Zhihui co-founded AGIBOT, he was sharing inventions online: a self-balancing bicycle, an intricate robotic arm and other projects that attracted a following among China’s engineering enthusiasts. Huawei recruited him through its “Genius Youth” programme, but in late 2022 he left to pursue an ambition he had held since childhood: building a humanoid robot.
In 2023, Peng and former Huawei executive Deng Taihua established AGIBOT in Shanghai. Within months, they unveiled their first humanoid prototype. Their ambition was to develop machines that could understand instructions, move through human environments and handle everyday objects.
AI, Robotics and China’s Position
AGIBOT has emerged at a turning point for artificial intelligence. AI systems increasingly process language, images and video together. Robotics researchers are using these capabilities to help machines interpret their surroundings and learn physical tasks. This field, known as embodied AI, connects software intelligence with the practical demands of movement, balance and touch. The International Federation of Robotics identifies growing autonomy and learning through demonstration and simulation among the industry’s major developments.
Physical work remains demanding. Picking up a soft bag, handling an unfamiliar component or working safely beside a person requires reliable judgement and control. Conventional industrial robots already perform specialised jobs at scale; adaptable humanoids are at an earlier stage of commercial development. Manufacturers must demonstrate that they can meet customers’ expectations for speed, energy consumption, maintenance and consistent performance.
According to the World Robotics 2025 report, it installed approximately 295,000 industrial robots in 2024—54% of the global total. Japan, the United States, South Korea and Germany were the next largest markets. These figures mainly describe established factory automation, showing the manufacturing base from which China’s newer robotics companies are developing.
In the international arena of the AI research, China led in research publication volume, citations and patent grants. Leadership therefore depends on the measure: model development, research, manufacturing or practical adoption. Stanford’s 2026 AI Index reports that the United States produced 59 notable AI models in 2025, compared with China’s 35.
Where AGIBOT Fits
AGIBOT develops robot bodies, AI models and the training data needed to connect them. Its AgiBot World research project assembled more than one million recorded task trajectories across 217 tasks, helping to train robots to manipulate objects, as well as releasing data, tools and models to allow other researchers to build on the work.
Its commercial range also extends across several markets. AGIBOT offers humanoids for interaction and entertainment, industrial robots for handling tasks, and commercial cleaning machines. In June 2026, the company announced production of its 15,000th robot, an industrial G2 model. That milestone demonstrates manufacturing scale; long-term competitiveness will depend on how effectively its machines perform in customers’ workplaces.
AGIBOT provides a way to explore the questions shaping this industry. How do engineers teach a machine a physical skill? Which jobs justify investment in robotics? How will businesses measure the benefits, and what new skills will employees need? To find out more about incorporating robotics, AI and Chinese innovation into a programme for your group, contact us at contact@insiderlondon.com or visit Insider London.