Shenzhen-based automation and robotics company Inovance Technology is preparing a Hong Kong listing that could raise up to $2 billion, in what would be one of the largest robotics-related capital raises of the year.

The company has reportedly selected a group of global and Chinese investment banks – including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and China International Capital Corp – to lead the offering, according to people familiar with the matter. The listing plans are still under consideration and could change in size or timing.

If completed, the deal would underscore how robotics and industrial automation are becoming central to the next phase of global AI investment.

Capital Flows Into Physical AI

The planned listing comes as investors increasingly shift attention from software-based AI to systems that operate in the physical world.

Inovance, which is already publicly traded in Shenzhen, develops industrial automation equipment and robotics systems used in sectors such as packaging, plastics and steel production. Its technologies form part of the infrastructure that enables automated manufacturing.

The company’s potential Hong Kong listing reflects a broader trend: mainland Chinese firms are turning to international markets to raise capital for expansion, particularly in high-growth sectors like robotics.

Hong Kong has re-emerged as a key venue for such offerings. Listings by mainland companies accounted for a large share of the exchange’s proceeds in 2025, as companies sought to tap global investors while maintaining access to Asian markets.

For robotics firms, access to capital is especially critical. Unlike software startups, companies building physical systems must invest heavily in manufacturing, supply chains and hardware development.

Scaling Industrial Robotics

Inovance’s business sits at the intersection of traditional industrial automation and newer forms of embodied AI.

While much of the current attention in robotics is focused on humanoid systems, industrial robots remain the backbone of automation in sectors such as manufacturing and logistics.

These systems are evolving as AI capabilities are integrated into control systems, enabling machines to operate with greater flexibility and adapt to changing conditions.

China has made robotics a strategic priority as part of its broader push to strengthen high-tech manufacturing. Companies like Inovance play a key role in that effort by supplying the components and systems that underpin automated production lines.

At the same time, newer robotics companies – including humanoid developers – are emerging alongside established industrial players, creating a layered ecosystem of automation technologies.

A Competitive Global Landscape

The potential IPO also highlights intensifying global competition in robotics.

Chinese firms are scaling rapidly, supported by domestic demand and government-backed initiatives. At the same time, companies in the United States and Europe are investing heavily in next-generation robotics platforms, including humanoid systems.

Capital markets are becoming a battleground in this competition. Large funding rounds and public listings provide the resources needed to scale manufacturing, expand internationally and invest in research and development.

For investors, the appeal of robotics lies in its potential to reshape industries ranging from manufacturing to logistics and services. But the sector also carries risks, particularly given the capital-intensive nature of hardware development and the long timelines required to achieve profitability.

Inovance’s planned listing reflects both sides of that equation: strong demand for robotics-driven automation and the substantial investment required to deliver it at scale.

As the industry evolves, access to capital may prove as important as technological innovation in determining which companies emerge as global leaders in physical AI.

MegazoneCloud and Japanese AI avatar company AVITA have announced a strategic partnership to bring “physical AI” systems into real-world deployment, combining conversational digital avatars with autonomous robots.

The collaboration reflects a growing shift in the robotics industry: moving beyond machines that can act in the physical world toward systems that can also communicate, guide and interact with humans in more natural ways.

By integrating cloud-based AI infrastructure with avatar-driven interaction models, the companies aim to deploy robots capable not only of performing tasks but also of engaging directly with customers across industries such as retail, finance and public services.

From Digital Avatars to Embodied Systems

At the core of the partnership is the integration of AVITA’s avatar technology with autonomous robotic platforms.

AVITA, founded by robotics researcher Hiroshi Ishiguro, has focused on creating AI avatars that can interact with users through conversation and visual representation. Its systems are already used in digital environments for customer support and training.

MegazoneCloud brings cloud infrastructure, AI deployment capabilities and a global enterprise network. Together, the companies plan to embed avatar systems into physical robots, effectively giving machines a conversational interface tied to real-world actions.

The combined system is designed to enable robots to guide customers, provide consultations and respond to inquiries while also performing physical tasks.

This approach differs from traditional service robots, which often rely on limited scripted interactions. By pairing avatars with autonomous decision-making systems, the companies aim to create more adaptive and human-like interactions.

Targeting High-Interaction Industries

The initial focus will be on sectors where customer interaction is central.

In retail, the companies are exploring applications such as unmanned checkout systems and in-store guidance. In finance, robots could assist with customer consultations, while training systems could simulate realistic interactions for employees.

AVITA’s existing products, including a customer interaction platform and a training system that uses AI avatars to simulate real-world conversations, will be integrated into these deployments.

The training system analyzes user responses and provides performance feedback, suggesting that physical AI systems could play a role not only in service delivery but also in workforce development.

The companies also plan to expand into public-sector use cases, where robots could assist with information services or administrative support.

Physical AI Moves Toward Human Interaction

The partnership highlights a broader evolution in robotics.

Early automation systems focused primarily on physical execution – moving objects, assembling parts or navigating spaces. More recent developments in embodied AI have added perception and decision-making capabilities.

The next step, increasingly, is communication.

As robots move into environments such as retail stores, offices and public spaces, their ability to interact with people becomes as important as their ability to perform tasks.

By combining avatars with physical systems, companies are attempting to bridge the gap between digital AI – which excels at conversation – and robotics, which operates in the physical world.

This convergence is drawing interest across the industry, with multiple companies exploring ways to integrate language models, perception systems and robotic hardware into unified platforms.

For MegazoneCloud and AVITA, the challenge will be translating these capabilities into reliable, scalable systems that can operate in real-world conditions.

If successful, the approach could redefine how businesses deploy automation – not just as a tool for efficiency, but as an interface between humans and machines.

Faraday Future is expanding its presence in robotics with new deployments of humanoid systems in both commercial and educational settings, as the electric vehicle maker pushes deeper into what it calls an “embodied AI” ecosystem.

The California-based company said it recently delivered two of its robots – the Master and Aegis models – to Los Angeles-based New PBB Auto, where they will be used for reception and customer-facing duties in dealership and showroom environments.

The move reflects an emerging strategy among robotics companies to introduce humanoid systems into service roles where interaction with customers is as important as physical capability.

At the same time, Faraday Future is testing how its robots can be used in education, pointing to a broader effort to position embodied AI as both a commercial tool and a learning platform.

From Showroom Assistants to Service Platforms

The initial deployment focuses on dealership operations, where the robots are expected to greet visitors, provide information and assist with basic customer service tasks.

Such roles are increasingly seen as an early entry point for humanoid robots. Unlike industrial environments, where precision and speed dominate, service settings require machines to interact naturally with people – an area where embodied AI systems are still evolving.

Faraday Future’s approach suggests that automakers may view robotics as an extension of their existing ecosystems, connecting vehicles, retail environments and digital services.

The delivery is tied to a broader business relationship with New PBB Auto, which has previously committed to future vehicle orders from the company.

Testing Robots as Educational Tools

Alongside commercial deployments, Faraday Future has begun experimenting with robotics in education.

In Los Angeles, the company hosted an interactive demonstration involving more than 300 students, where participants engaged directly with humanoid robots, a robotic dog and one of the company’s vehicles.

The event, held in collaboration with a local school district, emphasized hands-on interaction rather than passive demonstrations. Company representatives said the experience highlighted how direct engagement with robots can increase student interest in artificial intelligence and STEM fields.

Faraday Future is now exploring whether such programs could be scaled into structured educational offerings, potentially combining robotics demonstrations with curriculum development.

The company describes this approach as a “Robot & Vehicle + Education” model, in which embodied AI systems are used not only as tools but also as teaching platforms.

Automakers Enter the Robotics Race

Faraday Future’s expansion into robotics underscores a broader trend in the automotive industry.

As vehicles become increasingly software-driven, automakers are exploring adjacent markets where artificial intelligence and hardware integration intersect. Robotics – particularly humanoid systems – represents one such opportunity.

Companies including Tesla have already signaled ambitions to develop humanoid robots alongside their automotive businesses. Faraday Future’s approach suggests a different entry point, focusing initially on service and education rather than large-scale industrial deployment.

The strategy also reflects a key challenge facing the robotics industry: identifying practical, near-term use cases.

While humanoid robots are often associated with future household or industrial roles, many companies are beginning with smaller, controlled deployments in environments such as retail, hospitality and education.

For Faraday Future, the combination of dealership deployments and school programs provides an early test of how embodied AI systems can function in real-world settings.

Whether these applications scale into a broader business remains uncertain. But the company’s efforts highlight how robotics is increasingly being treated not as a standalone industry, but as part of a wider ecosystem connecting mobility, services and digital intelligence.