DeepSeek Invests in Unitree to Develop AI Brain for Humanoid Bots

Chinese AI vendor DeepSeek is investing in Unitree as part of the humanoid robot maker’s IPO in Shanghai.DeepSeek spent about $2.8 million on 933,399 shares of the company.Along with the investment, the companies -- both based in Hangzhou, in the southeastern province of Zhejiang -- have agreed to collaborate to develop AI models for humanoid bots, pairing DeepSeek’s AI expertise with Unitree’s expertise in motion control and mechanics.In addition, Unitree has pledged to give DeepSeek priority when procuring model-training services and technical solutions, while DeepSeek will do likewise when purchasing robots or investigating embodied AI applications.Despite major advances in human robotics in China over the past couple of years, developing a “brain” that understands unfamiliar environments and can act safely and reliably on instructions remains a significant challenge.In the context of this scenario, DeepSeek -- whose success to date has largely been built on lower-priced large language models -- is benefiting from access to Unitree’s robots.Related:Google DeepMind Releases Gemini 2 Humanoid ModelUnitree has emerged as one of China’s most high-profile robot manufacturers, recently securing a deal with Nvidia to supply its H2 Plus humanoid bot for the chipmaker’s new robotics platform for researchers.It has been planning to go public for some time, making its intentions clear last September. It was suggested then that the company would be valued at about $7.4 billion.Now, though, the IPO values Unitree at about $9.04 billion.Alongside DeepSeek, other big-name local investors include Tencent's investment arm, China National Petroleum’s Kunlun Capital and a unit of state utility company Southern Power Grid. All three have put in about $20 million each.Public subscriptions, meanwhile, open on August 10.The IPO prospectus shows that Unitree’s revenue more than quadrupled to nearly $252 million last year, with humanoid bots generating $128 million in sales. U.S. sales -- before the ban the FCC imposed on imported Chinese robots last month -- accounted for roughly 13% of the company’s revenue.But growth has slowed this year amid an uncertain trading environment in the U.S., as underscored by the bot import ban.About the AuthorContributing WriterGraham Hope has worked in automotive journalism in the U.K. for 26 years, including spells as editor of leading consumer news website and weekly Auto Express and respected buying guide CarBuyer.