The first U.S. humanoid Siasun Robot&Automation stock, Agility (AGLT.US), debuts on Nasdaq tonight, backed by Foxconn and NVIDIA Corporation.

Agility Robotics is set to become the first U.S.-listed company focused on humanoid robots, a significant milestone for an emerging category that still needs to prove its value. The startup has completed its merger with special purpose acquisition company Churchill Capital Corp. XI and will begin trading on Nasdaq under the ticker "AGLT" on Thursday. According to a statement, the company has approximately US$465 million in funds before fees, including about US$201 million in private investment in public equity led by Foxconn. Other notable backers include NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA.US), Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.US), and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Agility is one of many companies developing humanoid robotshuman-like machines that can walk upright or move on wheels. To date, these robots have been used primarily in commercial settings such as warehouses and factories. Chinese company Unitree Robotics listed in Shanghai in August, but Agility is the first among its peers to go public in the United States. The Oregon-based startup has about 400 employees and is expanding its partnership with GXO Logistics (GXO.US) to deploy its robots at more facilities, while also running a manufacturing pilot with AGCO Corporation (AGCO.US). "I think what's more important is what happens next as AI moves out of the digital world," CEO Peggy Johnson said in an interview, referring to how artificial intelligence is now being applied to robots and other hardware. "Bringing intelligent robots into more workplaces is the real opportunitywhen machines and people truly work together, it will fundamentally change the boundaries of what's possible." Agility believes its latest humanoid robot, Digit 5, can help fill labor shortages, especially in warehouses. The new model, unveiled in September, is designed to perform complex tasks such as loading materials onto equipment, sorting parts, and inspecting items. By comparison, the earlier Digit 4 could only handle simpler tasks like stacking plastic bins. The new model can also operate safely near people, whereas previous generations had to work behind physical safety barriers, limiting their ability to take over human tasks. Agility says Digit 5 has received more than US$300 million in multi-year committed orders. The company's humanoid robots are already used by nine customers, and it is in active sales discussions with more than 30 potential commercial customers. The startup has committed to deploying Digit at 12 customer facilities, with a goal of building a pipeline of 100 potential customers across industries including automotive, retail, and pharmaceuticals by the end of 2027. Johnson cited a 2024 Deloitte study saying the number of unfillable job openings in U.S. manufacturing is expected to rise to about 1.9 million by 2033. "I think the labor gap that Digit is good at filling will only continue to grow," said Johnson, who previously served as CEO of augmented reality and mixed reality company Magic Leap. "Many companies don't know how to get the people to do these hard-to-fill, higher-turnover tasks." Johnson believes there will still be an educational process as Wall Street adapts to this new category. But she said the company should be evaluated on the same metrics as other automation technology providers, including high throughput and accuracy. "I think what's really worth watching is that Digit 5 can be updated over the air (OTA), so we can teach it new skills," she said. "As these additional deployments collect more data, all of that will a training flywheel." Currently, legged humanoid robots like Digit 5 present some unique challengesin particular, they are less predictable than their wheeled counterparts and pose a greater safety risk to humans. Johnson said going public makes her feel some pressure "because we're the first to run ahead, and we'll become the reference point for other companiesnot just on those metrics, but also on safety." She added, however, that the company's past operations in various environments have taught the team a great deal. "Demos can show what's possible, but real deployments are what teach you what works, and we've learned a lot over the past three years," she said. "We're able to walk into these facilities, take on real work, and get paid for it."