The competition for the “brain” of the physical world has intensified. X Square Robot, a pioneer in general-purpose embodied AI, confirmed the completion of its Series A++ round on January 12. The $143 million injection was co-led by ByteDance and HongShan (formerly Sequoia China), bringing X Square’s total funding to roughly $423 million (RMB 3 billion) since its inception in late 2023.
The “WALL-A” Brain: Vision-Language-Action (VLA)
X Square Robot’s competitive edge lies in its proprietary foundation model, WALL-A. Unlike traditional robots that follow pre-programmed scripts, WALL-A allows robots to understand their environment through a “closed-loop” of hardware and data.
- Zero-Shot Generalization: The model allows robots to handle unfamiliar objects—like irregular logistics parcels or deformed food packaging—without prior training.
- Causal Inference: Much like a human, the robot can “fill in the blanks” when its vision is partially obscured (e.g., navigating through a crowded restaurant or a windy outdoor delivery route).
- WALL-OSS: In September 2025, the company released an open-source version of its model family to foster a global developer community.
Hardware Portfolio: Quanta X1 and X2
X Square is not just a software company; it builds its own high-performance “bodies” and core components (robotic arms, joint modules, and controllers).
| Model | Type | Primary Application |
| Quanta X1 | Wheeled Bimanual Robot | Autonomous food delivery, logistics sorting. |
| Quanta X2 | Wheeled Humanoid | Elder care, home assistance, commercial cleaning. |
| ArtiXon | Dexterous Hand | Precise manipulation (tool use, card dealing). |
Strategic Context: Why ByteDance is Moving Now
ByteDance’s entry into robotics follows similar moves by Xiaomi and Xpeng, signaling that the next era of tech dominance will be fought in the physical world.
- Data Advantage: ByteDance’s expertise in large-scale data processing and AI recommendation systems is a perfect match for the “data-hungry” training requirements of embodied AI.
- Commercial Ecosystem: Potential integrations with TikTok Shop or Douyin logistics could see X Square robots automating warehouse sorting and “last-centimeter” deliveries.
- National Priority: The investment aligns with Beijing’s 2026 focus on “Embodied Intelligence” as a key driver of national productivity.
“The key to enabling robots to master real-world tasks lies in the ‘robot brain’—a foundation model for the physical world that parallels virtual LLMs.17 This investment will accelerate our expansion into high-value applications.” — Wang Qian, CEO of X Square Robot.
Conclusion
The $143 million funding round is a “coming of age” moment for X Square Robot. By securing the backing of ByteDance alongside Alibaba and Meituan, the startup has effectively become the “consensus bet” for the future of Chinese robotics. As the Quanta X2 begins pilots in senior healthcare and advanced manufacturing, the race to build a commercially viable, “thinking” robot has moved from the laboratory to the production line.
