Stablecoin leader Tether has revealed its participation as a backer in an $81 million funding round for an Italian AI startup focused on creating advanced humanoid robots.
The funding round, totaling 70 million euros, was spearheaded by the AI fund of CDP Venture Capital, with contributions from Tether, AMD Ventures, Duferco, Eni Next, and RoboIT.
In an announcement made on Monday, Tether stated that it invested to foster the development of humanoid robots designed for “industrial scale performance” and “human-centric interaction.”
“Tether’s funding will further the advancement of Physical AI systems and edge AI solutions and expedite the industrial validation of the company’s humanoid platform, the establishment of its first production facility, and its integration within the broader robotics ecosystem,” Tether mentioned.
Generative Bionics is an AI startup and research offshoot from the Italian Institute of Technology, concentrating on creating humanoid robots with “real-world physical AI capabilities” suitable for industrial applications in production lines.
“Tether’s backing of Generative Bionics aligns with its overarching strategy to support emerging technologies that enhance human potential while diminishing dependence on centralized systems governed by Big Tech,” Tether added.
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Tether stated that its investment strategy focuses on five primary areas: finance, power, data, education, and evolution, with AI investments like this categorized under evolution.
With a strong balance sheet expected in 2025, the company has pursued multiple investments across various sectors. Reports in mid-November suggested that Tether was contemplating a significant $1.15 billion investment in the German AI robotics firm Neura.
In the announcement, Tether also outlined other AI initiatives it has supported.
“These include investments in brain-computer interfaces through Blackrock Neurotech and recent AI collaborations, like Tether’s partnership with Northern Data and Rumble to deploy a global compute network featuring 20,000 GPUs for open, privacy-focused AI development,” Tether stated.
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