Story perspectives

Ropet CEO: Emotional Intelligence Key for Companion Robots

11/6/2025

Summary

Story summary

He Jiabin, CEO of Beijing robotics startup Ropet, says emotional subtlety is essential in companion robots.
Ropet, founded in 2022, has raised $4.2 million and aims to sell 20,000 units by year-end.
He believes the current AI wave can significantly enhance user experience in robotics beyond 'weak AI' products.
His background includes developing educational robots at Ling Technology and leading design at Bytedance.

History

Historical Context

The robotics industry has evolved significantly since the introduction of the first programmable robot, Unimate, in 1961. By 2020, the industry was valued at $45 billion, with projections of reaching $568 billion by 2030. In 2022, Ropet's $4.2 million funding exemplified the growing focus on emotional intelligence in robotics, indicating a shift towards more sophisticated, user-friendly machines that could transform human-technology interactions.

1 of 2

Story summary

He Jiabin, CEO of Beijing robotics startup Ropet, says emotional subtlety is essential in companion robots.
Ropet, founded in 2022, has raised $4.2 million and aims to sell 20,000 units by year-end.
He believes the current AI wave can significantly enhance user experience in robotics beyond 'weak AI' products.
His background includes developing educational robots at Ling Technology and leading design at Bytedance.

1 / 2