Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece was seen interacting with a quadruped robot at a partner conference held by Chinese embodied AI company AGIBOT in Melbourne on July 17, 2026. The event marked AGIBOT’s entry into the Australian and New Zealand markets, where it announced a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model in collaboration with local partners.
AGIBOT, a Chinese company specializing in embodied artificial intelligence, showcased its robots and outlined plans to provide localized solutions for industries including mining, commercial cleaning, facility management, research and education, and cultural entertainment. The RaaS model allows businesses to lease robots rather than purchase them outright, potentially lowering barriers to adoption.
The presence of the Lord Mayor highlighted the city’s interest in fostering innovation and international partnerships. The conference signals deepening tech ties between China and Australia, particularly in advanced robotics and AI.
Local industry observers noted that the move could bring new efficiencies to sectors like mining, where Australia is a global leader, and commercial cleaning, which faces labor shortages. AGIBOT’s expansion also underscores the growing trend of Chinese tech firms seeking growth opportunities overseas.
Article and image source: sydneysun.com
