Surge in Investment in Humanoid Robotics as Agility Robotics Prepares for Public Listing

Staff Report | PNN

Global investment in humanoid robotics is surging at an unprecedented level, driven by rapid advances in artificial intelligence and automation.

Recent data shows Shenzhen-based AI² Robotics in China raised around $735 million, reaching a valuation of nearly $3 billion. US-based Apptronik secured $935 million, pushing its valuation beyond $5.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Figure AI in San Jose raised $1 billion in Series C funding this year, reaching a valuation of around $39 billion, signaling strong investor confidence in humanoid robotics for industrial and logistics applications.

Amid this boom, US company Agility Robotics is preparing to enter public markets through a SPAC merger.

The proposed deal could value the company at around $2.5 billion and raise more than $620 million, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.

Founded as a spin-off from Oregon State University research in 2015, Agility Robotics now operates a large manufacturing facility in Salem. The company builds bipedal humanoid robots primarily for warehouse and industrial use.

CEO Peggy Johnson said the public listing aims to accelerate production capacity and fulfill existing orders more quickly, calling it a major expansion opportunity.

Its flagship robot “Digit” stands about 5 feet 9 inches tall and is designed for heavy material handling and warehouse logistics. Its backward-bending knees allow efficient movement in narrow industrial environments.

The company works with major clients including Amazon, GXO Logistics, Toyota, Schaeffler, and Mercado Libre, with long-term contracts already secured for around 1,000 robots.

The company uses AI models such as Claude and Gemini to enhance robotic instruction processing, but emphasizes physical capability and real-world testing as its main competitive advantage.

Experts say humanoid robotics could reshape warehouse and industrial labor, though household adoption may still take more than a decade.