Chinese robotics startup offers $18m for chief scientist to rival Tesla Optimus

The AI talent competition is now impacting robotics.

Chinese humanoid robotics startup UBTech recently announced its search for a new Chief Scientist offering a top salary of up to 124 million yuan ($18 million), as stated in a translated job ad.

The upper salary figure is lower than the most eye-catching offers seen in the quest for AI talent, where Meta and OpenAI have allegedly competed to acquire top talent with offers reaching up to $100 million.

This development signals a change for China's burgeoning AI and robotics sectors, which had previously shied away from such substantial financial offers that are common in Silicon Valley—indicating a shift towards more competitive recruitment actions in China.

Established in 2012, UBTech has emerged as one of China's major humanoid robotics companies.

The startup based in Shenzhen features the 5-foot-9 Walker S2 humanoid robot as its primary product. 

Much like Tesla’s Optimus robot, the Walker S2 is crafted for independent operation in industrial settings. 

Earlier this year, UBTech announced a collaboration with Airbus to evaluate its Walker S2 robots on production lines.

In a newly posted job advertisement, UBTech disclosed that the pay scale for the role of "Chief Scientist of Embodied Intelligence" ranges between CNY 15 million to 124 million.

The role involves propelling UBTech's initiatives in humanoid robotics within manufacturing, service industries, and "family companionship," as per the job listing.

Chinese companies seem to lead the field in humanoid robot deployments, accounting for approximately 90% of worldwide distributions last year, according to statistics from research firm Omdia.

Domestically produced robots also played a significant role during China's Spring Festival, a renowned public display of China’s latest advancements, with Unitree humanoids showcasing kung-fu abilities and acrobatics.

During a January earnings call, Elon Musk remarked that the most formidable opponents to Tesla’s Optimus robot hail from China—though he anticipates Optimus, which will enter mass production this year, to surpass any robot currently being developed in China.