A sad story: K-Scale Labs has announced the cancellation of all K-Bot pre-orders and the refund of customer deposits due to a rapidly depleting cash flow and inability to secure funding. They has laid off most of its team. This robotics company, favored by OpenAI, might consider selling K-Scale Labs to them. OpenAI relaunched its robotics project last year, but more than a year later, a prototype is still nowhere to be seen. K-Scale Labs could potentially accelerate this process. K-Scale Labs has an inspiring vision: to make cost-effective humanoid robots accessible for developers and businesses across various fields, ultimately driving a scalable data flywheel. However, the reality is harsh. Before K-Scale Labs, Chinese robotics companies like Unitree, Booster, and EngineAI had already entered the global market, creating fierce competition. Last year, they launched even more affordable products that have become popular among research institutions, universities, and labs,and even in the commercial performance and rental markets. Backed by China’s comprehensive robotics supply chain, these companies have been able to rapidly expand and iterate on their products (such as Unitree R1 and Booster K1), turning product releases into full production-delivery cycles rather than just order data. Of course, we can’t overlook the role of patient capital. Early-stage robotics development requires massive venture investment to move from POC to PMF and then scale quickly. China’s top-down industrial push and diversified capital ecosystem have allowed these companies to raise multiple rounds of funding（for example, Booster, founded in 2023, has already completed six rounds of financing.） But not every company will make it through the “valley of death.” Funding chains can break at any time, and we’ll likely see many stories as tragic as that of K-Scale Labs. Ultimately, the ability to sustain oneself: to achieve self-sufficiency is what truly matters.

A breathtaking robotics moment This woman just stood up and walked again,with a robotic exoskeleton from French company Wandercraft. For tens of millions who can’t walk, it’s a life-changing breakthrough. Robots and humans become one, allowing humans to regain their freedom of movement.The exoskeleton learns from over 10,000 users’ movements every day:evolving, improving, becoming smarter. Now, that same tech has evolved into Calvin-40, a headless humanoid robot working in Renault’s factory, handling tires and parts boxes, etc. Born from humans, made for humans. 🫶