By Sharen Kaur - August 22, 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: i-City, Malaysia No.1 Digital City is set to become the country's first artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics experience centre under a tie-up with AgiBot Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd, one of China's fastest-growing embodied AI firms.
The move marks AgiBot's first large-scale urban deployment outside China. Backed by Tencent, LG and JD.com, the company is set to bring foreign capital and advanced robotics into Malaysia's digital economy, which currently contributes 22 per cent of gross domestic product and is projected to reach 25 per cent by 2025. Malaysia could capture as much as US$115 billion in AI-driven GDP across Southeast Asia by 2030, according to government estimates.
The partnership will see i-City transform as the country's first AI & Robotics experience centre by year-end, positioning the premier technology-driven urban development as a showcase for frontier technology in Southeast Asia and reinforcing the country's appeal as a hub for global tech investment.
Beyond this, the roadmap includes integrating robotics into i-City's hospitality assets, followed by the launch of an AI Smart Tower—a wellness-focused property development that leverages AI and robotics to support smart wellness and contribute to extending human life.
For i-City, the partnership underscores its continued commitment to innovation and its ambition to remain at the forefront of Malaysia's digital economy. By embedding AI and robotics into the DNA of the township, i-City and AgiBot are charting the path towards a smarter, more vibrant, and future-ready urban centre.
"This partnership not only strengthens i-City's role as Malaysia's smart ultrapolis but also positions us to attract global investors, innovators, and talents. By joining forces with AgiBot, we are making i-City the epicentre of AI and Robotics innovation in Malaysia," said Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, chairman of I-Berhad, the master developer of i-City.
The alliance highlights Malaysia's growing appeal as a testbed for frontier innovation, with global technology players increasingly embedding operations rather than treating the country solely as a consumer market.
For Agibot, it showcases its ability to embed embodied AI into real-world city ecosystems spanning property, hospitality, tourism, and urban living.
"Through i-City, AgiBot will showcase how embodied AI can transform urban living, tourism, and property development. Together, we aim to create transformative experiences that will redefine urban living and set new benchmarks for smart cities in the region," said Agibot founder, chairman and chief executive officer Deng Tai Hua.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2025/08/1263961/chinas-agibot-picks-i-city-first-overseas-ai-and-robotics-hub
No comments:
Post a Comment