Forget Wall Street, Ant Group’s latest flex isn’t financial, it’s R1, a humanoid robot that made its debut by cooking shrimp, reportedly, at IFA 2025 tech show in Berlin. While Tesla’s Optimus dreams of factory work, R1 is already auditioning for Iron Chef.

Picture credits: The Verge

At 1.7 meters tall and 110 kilos, R1 looks like a heavyweight but moves at a “grandma-jogging pace.” Still, with 34 joints and surprisingly nimble arms, it can stir, flip, and serve without burning the kitchen down, which already puts it ahead of most humans.

Artwork by Affan Qasim created using Gemini Pro

But R1 isn’t just about dinner. Ant Group is pitching it as a tour guide, museum helper, and even a healthcare assistant. The first batch is already clocking in at the Shanghai History Museum, and a flas

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