AgiBot's Peng Zhihui Proposes Worken Metric for Physical AI Value

Xinhua Finance reported that at the 2026 AgiBot Innovation Day in Shanghai on Oct. 29, AgiBot co-founder, president and CTO Peng Zhihui introduced Worken, or effective intelligent work hours, a proposed metric for gauging the value of physical AI. The concept shifts attention from laboratory demonstrations and hardware specifications to the actual output a robot can generate while operating autonomously.

Under the approach, evaluation centers on whether a robot can sustain effective work in real environments rather than merely complete isolated tasks. AgiBot outlined a calculation formula centered on autonomous output, though the available abstract did not disclose full parameters or quantitative results.

The proposal reflects a broader industry push to build common yardsticks for embodied AI deployment. By linking value to continuous, reliable autonomous work, Worken aims to help compare systems, guide product development and assess readiness for real-world applications. AgiBot, also known as Zhiyuan Robotics, frames the metric as a step toward measuring physical AI by practical productivity rather than presentation.