Hangzhou Real Estate Group (Hangshi Group) just dropped a bombshell. They officially launched their “Shiye Intelligence Investment” brand and a whopping 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion USD) mother fund yesterday, April 18th. And guess who snagged a spot as one of the first strategic cooperation projects? None other than ELU.AI (also known as Zhongneng Kunyu), a promising embodied AI startup.
This isn’t just another investment; it’s a clear signal. Hangshi is making a serious bet on the future of AI – specifically, the kind of AI that exists in the real world, not just on a screen. ELU.AI, founded in 2023 by former Alibaba VP Bai Huiyuan, is positioned right at the forefront of this disruptive technology.
Let’s unpack embodied AI a bit. It isn’t about creating sentient robots (yet!). It’s about giving AI a physical form – robots, drones, even advanced automation systems – allowing it to interact with the environment dynamically.
Think beyond just robots vacuuming floors. This technology will revolutionize logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and countless other industries. The key is learning through physical interaction, mimicking how humans develop skills.
This funding round is a huge win for ELU.AI, validating their vision and providing crucial capital for scaling operations and refining their technology. It’s also a good indicator of where smart money is flowing in the current tech landscape.
And for Hangshi Group? It’s a smart diversification play, leveraging the power of AI to future-proof their real estate empire and beyond. This deal signals that they recognize the transformative potential of embodied intelligence. We’ll be watching this very closely. This is precisely the kind of move that separates winners from losers in the tech race.
