PETALING JAYA: The future of urban living is no longer a distant science fiction concept but has already arrived in the form of “embodied intelligence”.
This was the central message of I-Bhd, the developer of i-City, during a corporate visit to Menara Star yesterday to showcase its pioneering AI Living residential concept and new fleet of AI-powered humanoid robots.
The delegation, led by I-Bhd chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, was received by Star Media Group Bhd (SMG) group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt, chief operating officer Lydia Wang, and client brand marketing senior general manager Sharon Lee.
Also present were I-Bhd chief executive officer Puan Sri Tey Siew Thuan and non-independent non-executive director Datuk Eu Hong Chew, as well as SMG Brand Studio senior general manager Elicia Wee and StarProperty general manager Mindy Chia.
The visit served as a briefing for The Star’s business, news, lifestyle and tech desk editors, offering an exclusive deep dive into how i-City is transitioning from a digital city into Malaysia’s first AI- and robotics-enabled urban ecosystem.
An AgiBot X2 humanoid robot was brought in to provide a live demonstration of the embodied intelligence that will be deployed across the i-City township in the coming years.
The robot, acquired through a strategic partnership with Agibot Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co Ltd, is one of 100 humanoid robots delivered to the developer’s AI World Experience Centre (AIWEC), which was officially opened to the public on Jan 13.
The X2, a sleek 131cm-tall robot, showcased its refined motion control and interactive capabilities by performing a synchronised dance during the briefing.
Demonstrating its AI-driven perception, the X2 also answered real-time questions about the weather and provided detailed descriptions of individuals standing directly in front of it, identifying visual cues with impressive accuracy.
During the corporate presentation, Lim underscored that i-City’s pivot into AI and robotics is a natural evolution of its 20-year history in both the technology and property sectors.
“The power of AI in today’s world is undeniable,” he said, noting that the technology is reshaping how people live, work and play.
Meanwhile, Eu explained that the move also represents a strategic transformation, as the group remains committed to a “tech refresh” cycle every three to four years to stay ahead of the curve.
He described the integration of AI and robots as “history in the making”, noting that the technology represents a leap that was unimaginable two or three decades ago.
Eu added that while AI often feels like an abstract software concept, humanoid robots provide a tangible “form factor” for public interaction.
While the physical body remains the same, different “brains” can be installed via software to suit different roles such as hospitality, education and domestic assistance.
The visit also shed light on the developer’s AI Living concept – a billion-ringgit intelligent ecosystem slated for completion in 2030.
The project is designed as a fully connected environment in which IoT devices, AI orchestration and robotics work in harmony to support residents and visitors across the residences and township.
Central to this strategy is the Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. By offering robots as a managed service rather than a one-off purchase, the developer aims to lower barriers to adoption while creating new, diversified revenue streams for the group.
To bridge the public knowledge gap, the group has also set up the 2,000sqm AIWEC at i-City to educate and familiarise visitors with embodied intelligence and humanoid robots.
The visit concluded with an interactive session where desk editors explored how such advancements would impact various sectors – from business models and tech infrastructure to the everyday lives of future homeowners.
