Insta360 has unveiled the CameraMan robot concept to mark its 11th anniversary, positioning it as an intelligent photography robot. This project is the culmination of six years of work on technologies, including the development of AI chips, cameras, and audio equipment.
The company officially announced its entry into the robotics sector with the CameraMan concept, which is capable of independently composing shots, capturing footage, and performing professional photography. This announcement comes amid a significant decline in the company's market capitalization, which has fallen by over 60% from its peak value in September 2025, at 377.77 yuan per share, to 135.98 yuan.
Insta360 founder Liu Jingkan emphasized that the robot represents the culmination of six years of technological development, not merely a new strategic pivot. The company published a diagram demonstrating how existing products correspond to the robot's components: an AI chip developed since 2020 acts as the processor; the Nano camera series serves as vision; Wave audio and Mic Pro products function as hearing organs; the Link conference camera provides neck articulation; and Yinglin A1 functions as the torso. The recently released dual-lens stabilized camera, Luna Ultra, is viewed as an important unfinished step toward CameraMan.
The core idea is to create a robot that eliminates the need for human photographers by automatically managing composition, timing, and the shooting process, allowing users to fully immerse themselves in their experiences. Unlike many announcements showcasing finished physical devices, the Insta360 CameraMan remains a concept without a defined final form or launch schedule. The company noted that panoramic drones can be seen as early prototypes, and the robot's capabilities will be gradually integrated into existing product lines before reaching its final form.
The timing of this announcement reflects both strategic positioning and market pressure. The panoramic camera market has become extremely competitive due to DJI's entry into the field, as well as the development of competing products by smartphone manufacturers such as vivo and OPPO. Simultaneously, the embodied robotics sector is experiencing a valuation boom, marked by over 50 funding rounds in the first quarter of 2026 totaling approximately $28 billion, creating an attractive narrative for investors.
In internal communications, Liu Jingkan described the company as one that solves problems others ignore, citing products like the e-ink Mic Pro display and the detachable Luna screen as proof of this philosophy. The robot announcement provides Insta360 with a second growth vector beyond its core visualization business, positioning the company for the next wave of intelligent hardware integration, where cameras transform from passive recording devices into autonomous agents.
