Core Insights - The Chinese humanoid startup X Square Robot has raised approximately $100 million in a funding round led by Alibaba Cloud, bringing total investment to around 2 billion yuan ($280 million) since its launch in December 2023 [1][2]. Funding and Investment - This funding round marks the eighth financing round for X Square Robot, with participation from notable investors including HongShan, Meituan, Legend Star, Legend Capital, and INCE Capital [2]. - The influx of venture capital into humanoid robots is driven by expectations that their integration with generative artificial intelligence will revolutionize human-robot interactions [3]. Technological Developments - X Square Robot has introduced an open-source foundation model for embodied AI named Wall-OSS, which allows developers and the public to access the underlying code for free [6]. - The startup claims to be the first to open source an AI model dedicated to robotics and anticipates the emergence of "robotic butlers" within five years [7]. Product Launches - The company has launched the Quanta X2 robot, which features mop heads for 360-degree cleaning and hands capable of detecting subtle pressure changes, priced at $80,000 according to research firm Humanoid Guide [11]. Market Outlook - X Square Robot is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) next year, with ongoing revenue generation from sales to schools, hotels, and retirement homes [12]. - The company is in discussions with potential customers in Japan and Singapore, but to penetrate the consumer market, the price of robots needs to decrease to around $10,000, which is expected to be achievable in three to five years [13].