Richtech Robotics shares surge 15.13% after-hours after COO Phil Zheng announced Dex robot blending hardware and AI for targeted automation and shift to subscription-based model.

Richtech Robotics surged 15.13% in after-hours trading following its COO Phil Zheng’s announcement at CES 2026 of the Dex robot, a single-use, AI-driven solution targeting labor shortages. The robot, powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson Thor, is designed to handle repetitive tasks in dynamic environments, aligning with the company’s strategic shift to a subscription-based “robot-as-a-service” model. This pivot from one-time hardware sales to recurring revenue, combined with Dex’s potential to address high labor costs and turnover in sectors like logistics and hospitality, fueled investor optimism. Additionally, partnerships in Asia and the U.S., including a $4M deal with Beijing Tongchuang, underscored expansion prospects. While a delayed 10-K filing introduced some uncertainty, the immediate market reaction focused on the product launch and business model innovation, positioning Richtech as a competitive player in the AI-driven automation sector.