Richtech COO: “Dex” Is the Ultimate Physical AI Robot for Businesses

We’re at Tech Robotics with Phil Zhang, COO of Richtech. Phil’s been with the company since 2016 as employee #1, and he walks us through how Richtech transformed over the years—from machine vision, to robotics, to what he calls cutting-edge AI—while staying focused on one thing: solving real-world problems for businesses. The big headline: Richtech’s newest robot Dex. Phil explains why Dex is designed to be broadly applicable, how it blends robotics with “physical AI,” and why customers are showing strong demand as businesses deal with higher costs, labor shortages, unreliable labor quality, and turnover. The goal isn’t to replace everything—it’s to take on even 10% of a workflow, free humans up for higher-value work, and attack the repetitive tasks that drive no value. We also get an update on Richtech’s pivot to Robot-as-a-Service, why the subscription model builds trust (“if it’s not working, you’re not paying us”), and Phil’s take on what differentiates Richtech in a crowded robotics landscape. #Robotics #AI #Automation #PhysicalAI #FutureOfWork #Stocktwits Chapters below ⬇️ 00:00 On-site intro + meeting Phil Zhang (CEO, Richtech) 00:22 How Richtech evolved since 2016 (vision → robotics → AI) 00:46 Introducing Dex: who it’s for + what it does 01:13 Why Richtech is building application-specific robots (not humanoids) 01:40 Market reaction: “clamoring” for a solution like Dex 01:58 The business pain: labor costs, shortages, turnover 02:21 Targeting low-level, menial tasks that drive no value 02:42 Pivot update: Robot-as-a-Service + 100% renewals 03:01 Why customers like the subscription model (accountability) 03:19 Richtech’s moat: focus + vertical value delivery 04:44 Capital raise? Phil on balance sheet + “strategic” only 05:08 Robots at home (Roomba + litter bot) 05:31 Wrap Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this show are solely the opinions of the hosts’ and guests’ and do not reflect the opinions of Stocktwits, Inc. or its affiliates.