Agility Robotics is headed to Wall Street - Business Insider
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Key takeaways
- The most recent headlines show that humanoid‑robot manufacturers are moving from demonstrations toward large‑scale commercial deployment.
- In the United States, Agility Robotics announced it will go public through a SPAC at a $2.5 billion valuation, becoming the first company to field full‑size humanoid robots in U.S. warehouses.
- Its Digit robot is already operating in nine customer sites—including Amazon, Toyota and logistics firm GXO—and the firm will be the first to embed Nvidia’s new Halos safety system for robots working alongside people.
- Meanwhile, in Europe, startups are challenging China’s dominance in the sector.
- At the Vivatech fair, France’s Enchanted Tools displayed its social humanoid Mirokai, which can converse in over 50 languages and is being piloted in hospitals and airports.
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The latest news and analysis on robotics, from humanoid AI to real-world automation.
The latest news and analysis on robotics, from humanoid AI to real-world automation.
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Humanoid robot startup Agility Robotics is going public at a $2.5 billion valuation via a SPAC
By Rya Jetha Digit is a full-sized humanoid that can perform repetitive physical tasks, such as carrying heavy storage and sorting goods. Agility has already deployed its Digit robot across nine customer facilities, including those of Amazon, Toyota, and the logistics company GXO.
Agility is the first company to commercially deploy humanoids in the US. Tesla is developing Optimus, which it plans to begin producing this summer. Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics plans to deploy its Atlas humanoid in factories in 2028. Figure AI, most recently valued at $39 billion, piloted its humanoids at a BMW manufacturing plant in Germany and has a deal to deploy robots across the distribution and logistics network of Catalyst Brands, the parent company of JCPenney, Aéropostale, and Brooks Brothers. Agility is working with Nvidia on the safety system. This week, Nvidia announced Halos for Robotics, a safety system designed to help robots operate around people in industrial settings. Agility will be the first company to incorporate the software into its humanoids.
Agility's SPAC deal comes as the humanoid robotics industry moves from flashy demos toward deployment. The market is dominated by Chinese companies such as Unitree, which is preparing to go public and targeting a valuation of up to $7 billion. Chinese robotics firms accounted for about 90% of humanoid robot shipments last year, according to Omdia.
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