New development to integrate embodied intelligence into homes
PETALING JAYA: For generations, our collective vision of the future was defined by The Jetsons – a world of whirring robot butlers and homes that anticipated our every whim.
While we might not have flying cars in the driveway just yet, the “machine-assisted” lifestyle has quietly graduated from far-fetched fantasies in morning cartoons to our actual homes.
In today’s artificial intelligence (AI) empowered landscape, the property industry’s age-old obsession with “location, location, location” could be facing a technological coup.
People aren’t just looking to buy a spot on the map anymore; they’re buying into an ecosystem where convenience and advancement are pillars of their everyday lives.
At i-City in the state capital of Selangor, this shift is taking physical form through AI Living, a residential tower designed to be the first of its kind globally.
I-Bhd chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong noted the tower is one cog in the developer’s AI and robotics residential development master plan, which will see RM1bil channelled into integrating advanced technologies across the i-City township.
“When i-City began over 20 years ago, the idea of a ‘digital city’ was shaped by technologies of that era. At that time, digital largely meant connectivity like broadband infrastructure, data centres and smart buildings,” he said.
“Today, digital transformation has entered a new phase. AI and robotics are no longer back-end tools – they are becoming operating layers of the economy.”
Lim added that AI Living represents the next stage of i-City’s evolution, from a digital city to an AI- and robotics-enabled ecosystem.
“This means designing homes and urban infrastructure that are compatible with AI and robotics from the outset,” he said, adding that they are establishing a new benchmark for intelligent, human-centric living through the convergence of AI, robotics, wellness innovation and a scalable Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model.
Lim shared that the AI Living tower is well-positioned to be the world’s first AI and robotics residential tower.
“By developing the world’s first AI and robotics residential tower as a real-world testbed and commercialisation platform for humanoid robotics, we are accelerating the integration of embodied intelligence into everyday residential life.”
Slated for completion in 2030, the 500-unit tower is engineered for a future where humans and robots with embodied intelligence exist in a single, fluid environment.
It aims to move the needle from simple housing to an intelligent habitat, changing the fundamental aspects of how a modern home is designed, operated and valued.
Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) Minister Chang Lih Kang praised i-City’s AI and robotics residential development master plan for bringing advanced technology closer to the community while building public confidence in AI and robotics capabilities.
“It was great to see the children, students and families trying out AI technology for themselves. It is clear that AI is no longer something strange or scary. It has already become a part of our lives,” he noted on his social media accounts after officiating the opening of i-City’s AI World Experience Centre (AIWEC) last month.
“When people are given the opportunity to explore, experiment and understand technology, confidence will come naturally. This is where talent begins to emerge and more future opportunities can be created.
“Technology is not just about being sophisticated or advanced – it must be close to the people, help our youth move forward and ensure that progress is shared and enjoyed together.”
Built for robotics
Across much of the global residential market, technology remains an afterthought.
Most modern smart homes are essentially traditional apartments wearing digital masks, relying on smart locks, sensors and apps layered onto buildings never designed for intelligent systems.
AI Living treats intelligence as part of the building’s DNA, being conceived from the ground up as an AI- and robotics-native residential environment.
While most urban residents are used to seeing machines like robot vacuum cleaner discs, the tower will deploy a full spectrum of humanoid robots powered by embodied AI.
The development is set to be powered by a strategic alliance with Agibot Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co Ltd, a leading Chinese humanoid robotics and embodied intelligence company.
The partnership is also the Shanghai-based firm’s first major overseas deployment, with 100 humanoid robots already delivered for the AIWEC, which officially opened last month.
As a result, rather than retrofitting gadgets onto conventional apartments, the structure is being built specifically to accommodate robotics, automation and AI-driven services as core elements.
The tower will serve as a hub where embodied intelligence is embedded strategically and structurally into the architecture.
Its residential layouts, circulation paths, service zones and digital infrastructure are planned to support domestic robots as essential neighbours that help the home function, rather than mere high-tech gadgets.
“This is not about adding technology into homes. It is about designing homes that assume AI and robotics will be present – permanently,” said SA Architects Malaysia director Tony Mak. His firm is the primary architect for i-City’s AI residential development master plan.
“At AI Living, robotics are treated not as gadgets but as functional occupants within the residential ecosystem. It is designed to allow robots to operate naturally within the home, just like a human would.”
This integration addresses the most valuable modern commodity: time. By delegating menial tasks to AI-powered robots, from floor maintenance and laundry logistics to elderly and child care, the technology acts as a silent, round-the-clock concierge.
These applications are designed to reduce the invisible labour of adulthood, allowing residents to reclaim hours previously spent on chores.
In terms of the units at AI Living, I-Bhd is aiming for a price point that mirrors its Hill10 Residences above DoubleTree by Hilton at i-City.
