Wang Xingxing is making exactly the point we discussed in our Twitter Space a few days ago @broodsugar. Many robotics companies are going straight for generalized physical intelligence, building full-stack systems behind closed doors and expecting robots to work everywhere once R&D is complete. But world models require enormous compute, while real robots must run them on limited onboard hardware. That gap becomes even harder when the model needs to perceive, reason and act in real time.

10 years ago Wang Xingxing was a Shanghai University grad student building a $3,000 quadruped robot for his thesis. Today, the 36 year old founder is China's first humanoid robotics billionaire. Unitree closed day-2 of trading at 687 yuan, about a $40B market cap. Xingxing's stake: ~30% direct + indirect (via employee equity platform) Net worth: ~$12B USD XDog, a low-cost electric-motor quadruped he built as a grad student in 2015, went viral internationally. He quit his DJI job after 2 months, took ~$275K in angel funding, and founded Unitree in Hangzhou in Aug 2016 at age 26. His architectural bet: electric motors instead of Boston Dynamics-style hydraulics to make humanoids affordable, and selling them as hardware platforms instead of waiting for a finished product. 10 years, $275K angel round -> $12B net worth, and built a company primed to be a dominant force in a new technology paradigm.

Annals of Huanglong: Swansong of Yuan Fortress — Xuanling Bird The Xuanfang Wardens, guardians of Xuanfang, rely on the mechanical bird known as the Rafter Kite to send messages. Inspired by the now-extinct Xuanling Bird, the Rafter Kite pays tribute to a creature once cherished in Xuanfang. #WutheringWaves#

Humanoid robots may still be years away from their “ChatGPT moment,” according to Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing, even as his company’s shares soared to close 460% above its 150.80 yuan offer price amid huge interest in the emerging sector. That could “arrive in two to three years if things move fast, or five to ten years if they move slowly,” he said. Read more on CNBC:

🤖 What if a robot could be more than just a machine? Meet Xingxingxia P2(星行侠P2), a humanoid robot developed by Shenzhen-based Digit Robotics (数字华夏) that can assist in business settings, serve as a teaching assistant, and provide companionship for seniors. From smart services to emotional connections, Shenzhen is exploring how robots can bring more warmth to everyday life. @SpoxCHN_MaoNing @TheHumanoidHub @Ma_WuKong @tphuang @Kanthan2030