AI firm DeepSeek secures 2.31% of Unitree’s IPO shares, forming a partnership to develop humanoid robot AI models.
DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, has invested $20.8 million in robotics company Unitree, acquiring 933,399 shares, or 2.31% of the shares allocated in Unitree’s Shanghai IPO strategic placement.
The deal includes a collaboration to combine DeepSeek’s AI model expertise with Unitree’s mechanical engineering and motion control capabilities. Both firms will prioritize each other for procurement of services and products, targeting advancements in embodied AI for humanoid robots.
The partnership aims to address a critical challenge in humanoid robotics: developing AI systems capable of interpreting unfamiliar environments and executing physical tasks autonomously. Chinese robot makers have made progress in basic mobility but struggle with data scarcity for real-world applications.