KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Gold Coast Vung Tau is positioning Vietnam on the global map with the emergence of its first international island metropolis, developed under the Eco–Cinematic Living philosophy to create an integrated living environment that connects nature, amenities, and community.
The development’s TVC was recently showcased on large-format LED screens at Times Square, New York, highlighting its ambitions to attract a global audience with a Vietnam-born island metropolis built to international standards.
Drawing inspiration from Australia’s Gold Coast, Gold Coast Vung Tau is positioned beyond conventional residential development, according to a statement.
At the heart of the project, “Eco” represents a complete ecosystem where boulevards, landmark amenities, and expansive natural scenery operate cohesively as a fully functioning city. This vision forms the foundation of Mega Living—an expansive lifestyle shaped by scale, openness, and long-term planning.
Located in southeastern Ho Chi Minh City, the development benefits from the infrastructure and tourism advantages of Vietnam’s Southern Key Economic Region. It is approximately 60 minutes from the city centre and 35 minutes from Long Thanh International Airport.
Covering 1,300 hectares, the masterplan includes 300 hectares of interconnected waterways, 150 hectares of parks and green spaces, and over 100 on-site and nearby amenities. A key highlight is an 85-hectare outlet destination, planned to become the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
According to the developer, the project leverages the region’s strong infrastructure and tourism fundamentals to establish Gold Coast Vung Tau as a must-visit destination, contributing to the elevation of Vietnam’s international image in the travel and leisure sector.
-- BERNAMA
Friday, January 16, 2026
Malaysia's New Role in Tech Investment: Nexus Meridian Capital’s Platform-Based Approach
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan 16 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd has announced plans to establish five new regional offices across Southeast Asia by 2026, creating more than 200 high-value jobs. This move is accelerating Malaysia’s transformation into a “regional platform hub.” The strategic expansion underscores Malaysia’s shift from a traditional business outsourcing model toward a more complex, system-driven digital economy. In Southeast Asia's tech landscape, Malaysia is transitioning from a manufacturing hub to a "digital economy and regional platform hub." This shift is driven by policy maturity, infrastructure, and converging capital flows. Consequently, more technology-oriented holding companies are establishing physical entities in Malaysia to participate in long-term digital development. Within this trend, Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd stands out as a noteworthy case study.
Why Malaysia Attracts Technology Holding Companies
Malaysia offers a "middle ground advantage": a mature, transparent regulatory framework combined with a market still in a deep phase of digital transformation. Increasingly, Malaysia serves as a pivotal node for regional synergy, making long-term strategic positioning and platform integration practically feasible.
Nexus Meridian Capital: A Systematic Approach
Nexus Meridian Capital did not pursue a market entry centered on single products or short-term trends. Instead, it adopted a systematic approach focused on:
Why Malaysia Attracts Technology Holding Companies
Malaysia offers a "middle ground advantage": a mature, transparent regulatory framework combined with a market still in a deep phase of digital transformation. Increasingly, Malaysia serves as a pivotal node for regional synergy, making long-term strategic positioning and platform integration practically feasible.
Nexus Meridian Capital: A Systematic Approach
Nexus Meridian Capital did not pursue a market entry centered on single products or short-term trends. Instead, it adopted a systematic approach focused on:
- Platform Viability: Enhancing e-commerce retention and monetization through gamified tasks and virtual economic systems.
- AI Integration: Moving AI from a simple tool to an enterprise-level decision-making system.
- Governance and Integration: Leveraging holding company structures to achieve scale through localized incentives and platform strategies.
This aligns with the global shift from "rapid expansion" toward "structural quality and sustainability."
From Project Thinking to System Capabilities
While individual project lifecycles are often limited, long-term value resides in underlying systems and platform architecture. Nexus Meridian Capital functions as a holding entity that builds replicable, scalable technical frameworks rather than chasing short-term scale. This approach provides strong resilience against market cycles.
Future Direction: Long-Termism
The core challenge for Nexus Meridian lies in evolving its platform capabilities while maintaining stability. In a tech landscape returning to rationality, enterprises focused on systems may attract less initial attention but often demonstrate superior value over extended cycles.
Company: Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd
Contact Person: Alex Joos
Email: qsbkoon@nexusmh.com
Website: https://nexusmh.com/
Telephone: +60 135963 395
City: Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya
SOURCE: Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd
From Project Thinking to System Capabilities
While individual project lifecycles are often limited, long-term value resides in underlying systems and platform architecture. Nexus Meridian Capital functions as a holding entity that builds replicable, scalable technical frameworks rather than chasing short-term scale. This approach provides strong resilience against market cycles.
Future Direction: Long-Termism
The core challenge for Nexus Meridian lies in evolving its platform capabilities while maintaining stability. In a tech landscape returning to rationality, enterprises focused on systems may attract less initial attention but often demonstrate superior value over extended cycles.
Company: Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd
Contact Person: Alex Joos
Email: qsbkoon@nexusmh.com
Website: https://nexusmh.com/
Telephone: +60 135963 395
City: Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya
SOURCE: Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd
Thursday, January 15, 2026
SME BANK’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2026 REPORT: OVERNIGHT POLICY RATE TO HOLD AT 2.75% AS MALAYSIA’S ECONOMY EXPANDS AT 4.3%
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (“SME Bank”) has released its latest report on Malaysia’s Economic Outlook 2026 (“the Report”), which forecasts that Bank Negara Malaysia (“BNM”) is expected to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (“OPR”) at 2.75% throughout 2026, providing a stable monetary environment to support Malaysia’s economic expansion. The Report projects Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) to grow by 4.3%, despite heightened global uncertainties.
According to the Report, domestic growth momentum is expected to remain resilient, supported by sustained micro, small and medium enterprise (“MSME”) activities and continued policy support, which are expected to help cushion the economy against external headwinds from rising protectionism and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Overall, the growth outlook is broadly aligned with projections by the Ministry of Finance Malaysia, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
SME Bank’s Relief President and Chief Executive Officer, Samad Majid Zain, said, “Malaysia’s growth outlook for 2026 remains resilient, driven by the strength of MSMEs in sustaining domestic demand, employment and productivity. The National Budget 2026 reinforces this momentum with RM50 billion in financing and guarantee facilities with SME Bank entrusted to implement nearly RM2 billion in strategic national initiatives to support MSMEs scaling, technology adoption and productivity enhancement across priority sectors, in alignment with BNM’s Performance Measurement Framework and the Government’s MADANI economic framework.”
Key Highlights at a Glance:
· Services are likely to cushion overall growth, supported by resilient household consumption underpinned by accommodative monetary and fiscal policies, including higher allocations for Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Phase 2 civil servant salary adjustments, which are expected to help ease cost pressures and sustain consumption.
· Manufacturing faces higher tariff exposure, as 67.1% of the Industrial Production Index is export oriented, increasing vulnerability to external demand shocks and trade policy developments.
· Construction activity is set to normalise, following two years of exceptional post pandemic growth driven by infrastructure and private sector projects.
· The mining sector is expected to remain subdued, constrained by moderating demand from key importing economies and lower global crude oil prices.
SME Bank’s Head of Economic Research, Mazlina Abdul Rahman, said, “We project inflation to rise moderately to 1.7% in 2026, remaining at a manageable level. Headline inflation averaged 1.4% year on year for the first 11 months of 2025, lower than 1.9% in the corresponding period in 2024, before edging higher from July 2025 following the expansion of the Sales and Service Tax to additional service sectors, selected non-essential goods and utility tariff adjustments. Looking ahead, lower Brent crude oil prices, expectations of a stronger ringgit compared to the 2025 average and the absence of further fuel subsidy rationalisation this year should help keep inflation in check,” she elaborated.
The full report can be accessed at:
https://go.smebank.com.my/ECO2026
For more information:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1v6RXMzwWrfUjyk18u5dS1dC_09pO3dlL
Issued by:
SME Bank Strategic Communication
SOURCE: SME Bank
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Arnee Ismail
Head, Strategic Communication
SME Bank
Tel: +603 2603 7700 / +6019-6633390
Email: communications@smebank.com.my
--BERNAMA
According to the Report, domestic growth momentum is expected to remain resilient, supported by sustained micro, small and medium enterprise (“MSME”) activities and continued policy support, which are expected to help cushion the economy against external headwinds from rising protectionism and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Overall, the growth outlook is broadly aligned with projections by the Ministry of Finance Malaysia, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
SME Bank’s Relief President and Chief Executive Officer, Samad Majid Zain, said, “Malaysia’s growth outlook for 2026 remains resilient, driven by the strength of MSMEs in sustaining domestic demand, employment and productivity. The National Budget 2026 reinforces this momentum with RM50 billion in financing and guarantee facilities with SME Bank entrusted to implement nearly RM2 billion in strategic national initiatives to support MSMEs scaling, technology adoption and productivity enhancement across priority sectors, in alignment with BNM’s Performance Measurement Framework and the Government’s MADANI economic framework.”
Key Highlights at a Glance:
· Services are likely to cushion overall growth, supported by resilient household consumption underpinned by accommodative monetary and fiscal policies, including higher allocations for Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Phase 2 civil servant salary adjustments, which are expected to help ease cost pressures and sustain consumption.
· Manufacturing faces higher tariff exposure, as 67.1% of the Industrial Production Index is export oriented, increasing vulnerability to external demand shocks and trade policy developments.
· Construction activity is set to normalise, following two years of exceptional post pandemic growth driven by infrastructure and private sector projects.
· The mining sector is expected to remain subdued, constrained by moderating demand from key importing economies and lower global crude oil prices.
SME Bank’s Head of Economic Research, Mazlina Abdul Rahman, said, “We project inflation to rise moderately to 1.7% in 2026, remaining at a manageable level. Headline inflation averaged 1.4% year on year for the first 11 months of 2025, lower than 1.9% in the corresponding period in 2024, before edging higher from July 2025 following the expansion of the Sales and Service Tax to additional service sectors, selected non-essential goods and utility tariff adjustments. Looking ahead, lower Brent crude oil prices, expectations of a stronger ringgit compared to the 2025 average and the absence of further fuel subsidy rationalisation this year should help keep inflation in check,” she elaborated.
The full report can be accessed at:
https://go.smebank.com.my/ECO2026
For more information:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1v6RXMzwWrfUjyk18u5dS1dC_09pO3dlL
Issued by:
SME Bank Strategic Communication
SOURCE: SME Bank
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Arnee Ismail
Head, Strategic Communication
SME Bank
Tel: +603 2603 7700 / +6019-6633390
Email: communications@smebank.com.my
--BERNAMA
CEMENT INDUSTRY URGES POLICY BACKING FOR WASTE CO-PROCESSING
 |
| Joint Cross-industry Statement: Cement Industry Co-Processing Should Be More Widely Adopted for Global Sustainable Waste Management |
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Global industry organisations have issued a joint call for stronger policy support to scale up cement industry co-processing as a solution to the growing crisis of non-recyclable and non-reusable waste.
In a joint statement, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA), International Solid Waste Association – Africa, Mission Possible Partnership and the Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council (WtERT) said cement kilns can play a critical role in sustainable waste management worldwide.
GCCA Chief Executive, Thomas Guillot said cement industry co-processing is a safe, effective and circular waste management solution.
“Despite its proven benefits, wider adoption of co-processing depends on effective regulatory frameworks and supportive public policy,” he said in a statement.
Co-processing allows waste to replace fossil fuels in cement kilns while recycling residual ash directly into cement products, creating a zero-waste process. The approach targets contaminated and non-recyclable waste streams, complementing recycling systems and reducing reliance on landfills and new disposal infrastructure.
The practice is already recognised in regions including Europe, India, Latin America and North America, operating under strict environmental and safety standards. However, adoption remains uneven globally due to regulatory and policy gaps.
The organisations urged governments to formally recognise co-processing in waste policies, streamline environmental permitting, incentivise waste collection and pre-treatment, and count recycled material from co-processing toward national recycling targets. They also called for fiscal incentives and public-private partnerships to support long-term investment.
Global waste generation is estimated at 11.2 billion tonnes annually, with uncontrolled municipal waste projected to reach 1.6 billion tonnes by 2050, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Poor waste management contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and public health risks.
The signatories said co-processing offers a scalable pathway to divert waste from landfills, cut fossil fuel use in cement production and transform waste into a productive resource—if supported by coherent and aligned policies.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Post-Telecommunication Joint Stock Insurance Corporation
SINGAPORE, Jan 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” (Good), and the Vietnam National Scale Rating of aaa.VN (Exceptional) of Post-Telecommunication Joint Stock Insurance Corporation (PTI) (Vietnam). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect PTI’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
PTI’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which remained at the strongest level in 2024, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Capital adequacy has improved in recent years, driven by full earnings retention and portfolio restructuring. The company has a moderate-risk investment strategy, with the majority of investments held in cash and deposits, coupled with some higher-risk investments that include corporate bonds, real estate and equities. In addition, PTI’s exposure to large risks and natural catastrophes is partially mitigated through its reinsurance programme, whereby its reinsurance counterparties are generally of good credit quality.
AM Best assesses PTI’s operating performance as adequate as demonstrated by a five-year weighted average return-on-equity ratio of 8.6% (2020-2024). The company’s underwriting performance continued to show improvements following tightened underwriting guidelines and portfolio restructuring. In addition, PTI’s investment returns, consisting primarily of interest income, have been a relatively stable contributor to its overall earnings over the last five years.
PTI’s market share has reduced over the last three years, in part due to business restructuring and tighter risk selection. The company’s key product lines are mainly short-tail personal insurance, namely, motor, health and personal accident. PTI also benefits from a wide distribution network and good relationships with distribution partners.
Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.
This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113297866/en/
Contact
Ken Lau
Senior Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5025
ken.lau@ambest.com
Chris Lim, CFA
Associate Director
+65 6303 5018
chris.lim@ambest.com
Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com
Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com
Source : AM Best
The ratings reflect PTI’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
PTI’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which remained at the strongest level in 2024, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Capital adequacy has improved in recent years, driven by full earnings retention and portfolio restructuring. The company has a moderate-risk investment strategy, with the majority of investments held in cash and deposits, coupled with some higher-risk investments that include corporate bonds, real estate and equities. In addition, PTI’s exposure to large risks and natural catastrophes is partially mitigated through its reinsurance programme, whereby its reinsurance counterparties are generally of good credit quality.
AM Best assesses PTI’s operating performance as adequate as demonstrated by a five-year weighted average return-on-equity ratio of 8.6% (2020-2024). The company’s underwriting performance continued to show improvements following tightened underwriting guidelines and portfolio restructuring. In addition, PTI’s investment returns, consisting primarily of interest income, have been a relatively stable contributor to its overall earnings over the last five years.
PTI’s market share has reduced over the last three years, in part due to business restructuring and tighter risk selection. The company’s key product lines are mainly short-tail personal insurance, namely, motor, health and personal accident. PTI also benefits from a wide distribution network and good relationships with distribution partners.
Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.
This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113297866/en/
Contact
Ken Lau
Senior Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5025
ken.lau@ambest.com
Chris Lim, CFA
Associate Director
+65 6303 5018
chris.lim@ambest.com
Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com
Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com
Source : AM Best
AGIBOT Launches in Malaysia – Marks the Start of a Series of Strategic Initiatives Across the Asia-Pacific Region
 |
| From L – R: Mr. Abel Deng, President, Asia-Pacific & Middle East Region, AGIBOT ; Mr. Daniel Jiang, Partner & Co-president of AGIBOT; Mr. Deng Taihua , Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AGIBOT; YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation; Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, Chairman of I-Berhad ; YB Tuan Chiew Choon Man, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Dato' Eu Hong Chew, Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of I-Berhad |
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- AGIBOT, a leading robotics company specializing in embodied intelligence, recently announced the start of a series of strategic initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region in 2026, starting with a landmark launch event in Malaysia. The launch event was held at i-City, Selangor, and was attended by AGIBOT’s senior leadership team, alongside Malaysian government officials, partners, customers, and media guests. The event reinforced AGIBOT’s long-term commitment to building partnerships and advancing automation in Malaysia and across the region.
AGIBOT’s Industry Leadership – Ranked No. 1 in Humanoid Robot Shipments & Market Share in 2025
AGIBOT was founded in 2023 with a clear ambition reflected in its name: building robots for the AGI era. Rather than creating single-purpose machines, AGIBOT is focused on developing embodied intelligent robots that can learn, adapt, and evolve in the real world.
Last year AGIBOT reached several major milestones that underscored its leadership in humanoid robotics and embodied intelligence. Achievements include the latest rollout of its 5,168th mass-produced humanoid, demonstrating industrial-grade manufacturing capability and large-scale commercial readiness. AGIBOT also advanced embodied AI through real-world reinforcement learning, enabling its robots to be trained and deployed directly in physical production environments.
This resulted in AGIBOT being ranked No. 1 globally by Omdia. According to Omdia’s General-Purpose Embodied Intelligent Robot 2026 report, AGIBOT ranked No.1 globally in humanoid robot shipments and market share in 2025, shipping over 5,100 units and capturing 39% of the global market.
“AGIBOT made significant strides to improve the mass production and the practical use of embodied robotics last year. This was capped off at the end of last year when we rolled out our 5,000 th mass-produced humanoid robots. This milestone, along with others, puts AGIBOT in a strong position as we start 2026,” said Deng Taihua, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AGIBOT. “Today’s AGIBOT launch event in Malaysia is an example of our commitment to bring mass production and the practical use of embodied robotics to customers in this region.”
AGIBOT and I-Berhad Launch First AI & Robotics Experience Centre in Malaysia
The AGIBOT launch event on the 13th January 2026 also marked the Grand Opening of the AI World Experience Centre in i-City, officiated by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), YB Chang Lih Kang. The Centre was established in partnership with I-Berhad, one of Malaysia’s leading investment and property development companies, and the master developer of i-City. As a part of this strategic alliance, AGIBOT’s world-class robotics and embodied AI was deployed across property, hospitality, tourism and day-to-day urban life in i-City, Malaysia’s leading digital city. In parallel, the collaboration introduces a strong focus on human wellness and longevity, where AI and robotics are applied not only to productivity and automation, but also to health optimization and quality of life. AI World represents the first stage of a broader, long-term partnership between AGIBOT and I-Berhad.
“The building and launch of Malaysia’s first AI & Robotics Experience Centre concludes the first phase of our partnership with i-City, with plans for further development in the coming year. This launch also marks the first of several strategic initiatives we will roll out in the Asia-Pacific region throughout 2026 and beyond,” shares Abel Deng, President, Asia-Pacific & Middle East Region, AGIBOT. “This year, in collaboration with regional partners, we will accelerate the development of the embodied robotics ecosystem in Asia Pacific and deploy embodied robotics products and solutions across a wider range of closed-loop commercial scenarios.
“We are confident that this strategic initiative between AGIBOT and I-Berhad will advance Malaysia’s vision to become a regional hub for AI innovation through integrated development across technology, governance, talent, infrastructure, and investment,” said Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, Chairman of I-Berhad. “Furthermore, by developing the world’s first AI and Robotics Residential Tower as a real-world testbed and commercialization platform for humanoid robotics, we are accelerating the integration of embodied intelligence into everyday residential life. We are also laying the groundwork to translate advanced robotics capabilities into everyday living, while embedding health, wellness and longevity at the core of future residential environments. Through the convergence of AI, robotics, wellness innovation and a scalable Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, we are establishing a new benchmark for intelligent, human-centric living in the region, beginning with AI Tower.”
AGIBOT’s Industry-Leading Robotics Portfolio and Commercial Applications
AGIBOT offers a diversified and complete robotics portfolio tailored to a wide range of real-world applications. AGIBOT’s product lineup includes:
● AGIBOT A2 series – full-sized humanoids enabling multimodal interaction and autonomous navigation for guided presentations and showroom spaces
● AGIBOT X2 series – half-sized compact humanoids that can interact naturally with people, walk in a humanlike way, and perform complex, expressive movements, designed for entertainment, research and education
● AGIBOT G2 series – industrial-grade embodied robots combining interactive intelligence with precise force-controlled manipulation for rapid deployment in industrial environments.
● AGIBOT D1 series – high-mobility quadruped robots for inspection and operations in complex environments
● AGIBOT C5 – autonomous commercial floor-care robot delivering efficient sweeping, scrubbing, and smart navigation for large facilities
AGIBOT's robots are focused on eight key commercial applications, including reception and hospitality, entertainment and commercial performances, industrial intelligent manufacturing, logistics sorting, security inspection and patrol, data collection and training, scientific research and education. Through widespread adoption across multiple industries, AGIBOT brings the potential of embodied AI to reality, by driving industrial upgrades, transforming service and production processes, and supporting broader digital transformation efforts.
About AGIBOT
AGIBOT is dedicated to driving innovation through the integration of AI and robotics, creating world-leading general-purpose embodied robot products and an application ecosystem. Built on the foundation of robotic body and powered by the fusion of interaction, manipulation, and locomotion intelligence — "1 Robotic Body + 3 Intelligence" — AGIBOT is a leading robotics company in the industry to deliver a complete product portfolio and deploy across all major application scenarios.
For more information, please visit AGIBOT online at AGIBOT.com and follow AGIBOT on their socials:
https://www.facebook.com/AGIBOT.zhiyuan
https://x.com/AGIBOT_zhiyuan
https://www.instagram.com/AGIBOT_
https://www.youtube.com/@AGIBOT-robot
SOURCE: PNTR Group Advisors Sdn Bhd
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Aineena Hani - PR Consultant PNTR Group
Tel: +60128860059
Email: aineena@titanstrategic.co , aineena@pntr.group
LinkedIn: Aineena Hani Rozario
Name: Yuheng Feng - AGIBOT
Email: fengyuheng@agibot.com
--BERNAMA
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
1X Unveils Paradigm Shift In Humanoid AI: NEO’s Starting to Learn On Its Own
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan 13 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1X is excited to announce the new 1X World Model, a groundbreaking AI update for NEO, marking a major leap forward in humanoid robotics. The new 1X World Model enables NEO to turn any request into an AI capability on demand, using a video model grounded in real-world physics. This marks the first major step toward a future where robots can teach themselves to do anything a human can.
With this update, NEO leverages internet-scale video data fine-tuned on robot data to perform AI tasks, even with objects and environments it has never encountered before. This approach closes the loop between digital intelligence and physical reality, allowing NEO to build on humanity's vast knowledge as captured in video.
“After years of developing our World Model and making NEO’s design as close to human as possible, NEO can now learn from internet-scale video and apply that knowledge directly to the physical world. With the ability to transform any prompt into new actions—even without prior examples—this marks the starting point of NEO’s ability to teach itself to master nearly anything you could think to ask.”
- Bernt Børnich, CEO and Founder, 1X
The 1X World Model Turns Any Prompt into Autonomous Action
With this update, users give NEO a simple voice or text prompt, and it uses what it’s looking at to generate visualizations of future actions, and a built-in inverse dynamics model then translates these into precise movements for NEO to complete the request.
“With the 1X World Model, you can turn any prompt into a fully autonomous robot action — even with tasks and objects NEO’s never seen before.”
- Daniel Ho, AI Researcher, 1X
Demonstrations in 1X’s latest video showcase NEO's ability to generalize beyond training data. For simple prompts like packing a lunch box, NEO visualizes and executes fluidly, even with unfamiliar objects. More impressively, NEO handles completely novel tasks, such as operating a toilet seat, opening a sliding door, ironing a shirt, brushing a human's hair and more without any prior examples in its dataset. This highlights the transfer of broad human knowledge through the World Model.
The Flywheel Toward Self-Teaching Robots
Where traditional AI models for humanoid robots have depended on data collected by human operators, the 1X World Model enables NEO to collect its own data and master new capabilities autonomously. This paradigm shift opens the door for robots to teach themselves anything—accelerating the path to general-purpose humanoids that learn continuously from experience.
Humanoid AI Capabilities Scaling Alongside Video Models
Where improvement in AI capabilities for humanoids have long been bottlenecked by the speed in which robot data can be collected by human operators, the 1X World Model doesn’t only self improve from NEO collecting it’s own data but benefits from the improvement of video models given the world model uses a video model at its core.
Robust Performance in Dynamic and Unpredictable Environments
Traditional models have historically struggled with changes in lighting, clutter, or chaos that is commonplace in the home. The 1X World Model applies human-like understanding to navigate extreme variability, maintaining composure amid rapid environmental shifts. NEO is now able to generate and execute actions across countless scenarios, a first of its kind development in the humanoid space.
Learn More About the 1X World Model
To learn more, please visit our blog or watch the demonstration video here.
Pricing and Availability
NEO is available via 1X’s online store [1x.tech/order] and comes in three distinct colors (Tan, Gray, Dark Brown). Customers interested in owning one of the first NEOs can purchase Early Access for $20,000, which includes priority delivery in 2026. There will also be a subscription model offering of $499/month.
About 1X
1X is a leading U.S. based AI and robotics company, developing NEO–the home robot. 1X’s mission is to create an abundant future through safe, intelligent humanoids.
Media Contact:
Kendall Pennington
Head of Communications, 1X
Email: press@1x.tech
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe3770cd-6f5f-4bbc-a0ff-31e6d46e04ec
SOURCE: 1X Technologies
With this update, NEO leverages internet-scale video data fine-tuned on robot data to perform AI tasks, even with objects and environments it has never encountered before. This approach closes the loop between digital intelligence and physical reality, allowing NEO to build on humanity's vast knowledge as captured in video.
“After years of developing our World Model and making NEO’s design as close to human as possible, NEO can now learn from internet-scale video and apply that knowledge directly to the physical world. With the ability to transform any prompt into new actions—even without prior examples—this marks the starting point of NEO’s ability to teach itself to master nearly anything you could think to ask.”
- Bernt Børnich, CEO and Founder, 1X
The 1X World Model Turns Any Prompt into Autonomous Action
With this update, users give NEO a simple voice or text prompt, and it uses what it’s looking at to generate visualizations of future actions, and a built-in inverse dynamics model then translates these into precise movements for NEO to complete the request.
“With the 1X World Model, you can turn any prompt into a fully autonomous robot action — even with tasks and objects NEO’s never seen before.”
- Daniel Ho, AI Researcher, 1X
Demonstrations in 1X’s latest video showcase NEO's ability to generalize beyond training data. For simple prompts like packing a lunch box, NEO visualizes and executes fluidly, even with unfamiliar objects. More impressively, NEO handles completely novel tasks, such as operating a toilet seat, opening a sliding door, ironing a shirt, brushing a human's hair and more without any prior examples in its dataset. This highlights the transfer of broad human knowledge through the World Model.
The Flywheel Toward Self-Teaching Robots
Where traditional AI models for humanoid robots have depended on data collected by human operators, the 1X World Model enables NEO to collect its own data and master new capabilities autonomously. This paradigm shift opens the door for robots to teach themselves anything—accelerating the path to general-purpose humanoids that learn continuously from experience.
Humanoid AI Capabilities Scaling Alongside Video Models
Where improvement in AI capabilities for humanoids have long been bottlenecked by the speed in which robot data can be collected by human operators, the 1X World Model doesn’t only self improve from NEO collecting it’s own data but benefits from the improvement of video models given the world model uses a video model at its core.
Robust Performance in Dynamic and Unpredictable Environments
Traditional models have historically struggled with changes in lighting, clutter, or chaos that is commonplace in the home. The 1X World Model applies human-like understanding to navigate extreme variability, maintaining composure amid rapid environmental shifts. NEO is now able to generate and execute actions across countless scenarios, a first of its kind development in the humanoid space.
Learn More About the 1X World Model
To learn more, please visit our blog or watch the demonstration video here.
Pricing and Availability
NEO is available via 1X’s online store [1x.tech/order] and comes in three distinct colors (Tan, Gray, Dark Brown). Customers interested in owning one of the first NEOs can purchase Early Access for $20,000, which includes priority delivery in 2026. There will also be a subscription model offering of $499/month.
About 1X
1X is a leading U.S. based AI and robotics company, developing NEO–the home robot. 1X’s mission is to create an abundant future through safe, intelligent humanoids.
Media Contact:
Kendall Pennington
Head of Communications, 1X
Email: press@1x.tech
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe3770cd-6f5f-4bbc-a0ff-31e6d46e04ec
SOURCE: 1X Technologies
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