Drone company 
Antigravity is a subsidiary of Insta360 (影石科技), founded by JK Liu (刘靖康). Antigravity’s CEO is an American based in Los Angeles.
Insta360, the world leader in 360-degree cameras, has stepped up its pursuit of the US drone market's "huge potential" at a time when rival DJI has been barred from selling new models here.
At this week's CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Insta360 debuted a next-generation AI-powered 4K webcam and showcased the A1, a drone equipped with a 360-degree camera that was launched in early Dec by its drone arm Antigravity.
The company also made an attempt to replace Nikon, placing eye-catching yellow shopping bags bearing its logo at entrances across different exhibition halls — a display that had long been associated with the Japanese camera maker, which did not attend CES this year.
The A1 is available on Amazon and Best Buy, priced at ~$1,500, and has reportedly been "warmly received" by users particularly in China and the US.
Insta360’ VP of Marketing Max Richter: “The US market has huge potential, because there are so many outdoor opportunities and outdoor sports.”
Insta360's high-profile CES show came as DJI faces restrictions on offering new models in the US. In Dec, FCC added drones and components made by DJI, Autel and other foreign manufacturers to the "covered list" of companies determined to pose risks to US national security.
The move means DJI, Autel and other foreign drone companies on the list will not be able to obtain approval to sell new models or critical components in the US. Existing products will not be affected.
DJI obtained approval for its 360-degree drone, Avata 360, on Nov 19. However, US sales of the model have yet to start.
US defense budget legislation required DJI to be audited by an unspecified national security agency by Dec 23, and the company has sent multiple requests to several federal government agencies to request a security review since. DJI has said its offers to work with federal agencies have gone unanswered. The company is also in legal battles with the Defense Department, which added it to a list of companies working with the Chinese military.
When asked if Insta360 was worried about being the next DJI in terms of trouble with US authorities, Richter said that "there is always a risk," but the company is confident and is willing to do whatever it can for compliance.
“It's definitely a threat, but we don't want to get distracted with it. We keep investing in the US market. We want to be here, and all the rest, I think it's hard to predict.”
On tariffs, Richter said the company's premium pricing gives it some room to absorb the added costs, and that the impact is "manageable" for now.
Antigravity’s CEO Michael Shabun: “The US market is extremely important for us. For data security, we use AWS, so none of that data gets sent overseas.”
The company has also built in a unique "payload detection" feature that stops a drone from flying when users try to add accessories that can be used to harm people.
Antigravity operates as a standalone business, but Insta360 is a large shareholder and provides 360 lenses, stitching software and other technologies.
“Insta360 is a public company, and Antigravity is a separate private company with long-term aspirations to go public in the US.” Antigravity has VC and private equity investors from the US.
“I can't speculate and say what the US government would want and what they don't want. I can tell you the fact that at the moment, we do have international investment from all over the world, and there hasn't been any restriction, to our knowledge, about US investment.”
Note that Insta360’s VP of Marketing Max Richter is usually referred to as an Insta360 cofounder in the media even though the company was already founded and there’s a 50-person team when he joined, according to himself (stuff.tv/features/stuff). I guess Insta360 did this to project a less Chinese image.
asia.nikkei.com/business/ces-2
Antigravity is a subsidiary of Insta360 (影石科技), founded by JK Liu (刘靖康). Antigravity’s CEO is an American based in Los Angeles.
Insta360, the world leader in 360-degree cameras, has stepped up its pursuit of the US drone market's "huge potential" at a time when rival DJI has been barred from selling new models here.
At this week's CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Insta360 debuted a next-generation AI-powered 4K webcam and showcased the A1, a drone equipped with a 360-degree camera that was launched in early Dec by its drone arm Antigravity.
The company also made an attempt to replace Nikon, placing eye-catching yellow shopping bags bearing its logo at entrances across different exhibition halls — a display that had long been associated with the Japanese camera maker, which did not attend CES this year.
The A1 is available on Amazon and Best Buy, priced at ~$1,500, and has reportedly been "warmly received" by users particularly in China and the US.
Insta360’ VP of Marketing Max Richter: “The US market has huge potential, because there are so many outdoor opportunities and outdoor sports.”
Insta360's high-profile CES show came as DJI faces restrictions on offering new models in the US. In Dec, FCC added drones and components made by DJI, Autel and other foreign manufacturers to the "covered list" of companies determined to pose risks to US national security.
The move means DJI, Autel and other foreign drone companies on the list will not be able to obtain approval to sell new models or critical components in the US. Existing products will not be affected.
DJI obtained approval for its 360-degree drone, Avata 360, on Nov 19. However, US sales of the model have yet to start.
US defense budget legislation required DJI to be audited by an unspecified national security agency by Dec 23, and the company has sent multiple requests to several federal government agencies to request a security review since. DJI has said its offers to work with federal agencies have gone unanswered. The company is also in legal battles with the Defense Department, which added it to a list of companies working with the Chinese military.
When asked if Insta360 was worried about being the next DJI in terms of trouble with US authorities, Richter said that "there is always a risk," but the company is confident and is willing to do whatever it can for compliance.
“It's definitely a threat, but we don't want to get distracted with it. We keep investing in the US market. We want to be here, and all the rest, I think it's hard to predict.”
On tariffs, Richter said the company's premium pricing gives it some room to absorb the added costs, and that the impact is "manageable" for now.
Antigravity’s CEO Michael Shabun: “The US market is extremely important for us. For data security, we use AWS, so none of that data gets sent overseas.”
The company has also built in a unique "payload detection" feature that stops a drone from flying when users try to add accessories that can be used to harm people.
Antigravity operates as a standalone business, but Insta360 is a large shareholder and provides 360 lenses, stitching software and other technologies.
“Insta360 is a public company, and Antigravity is a separate private company with long-term aspirations to go public in the US.” Antigravity has VC and private equity investors from the US.
“I can't speculate and say what the US government would want and what they don't want. I can tell you the fact that at the moment, we do have international investment from all over the world, and there hasn't been any restriction, to our knowledge, about US investment.”
Note that Insta360’s VP of Marketing Max Richter is usually referred to as an Insta360 cofounder in the media even though the company was already founded and there’s a 50-person team when he joined, according to himself (stuff.tv/features/stuff). I guess Insta360 did this to project a less Chinese image.
asia.nikkei.com/business/ces-2
Quote
Byron Wan
@Byron_Wan
Insta360 cameras, which are used by NASA, USAF and many other Americans, are collecting data and communicating with servers in China and Russia, posing a potential national security threat.
Liu Jingkang (JK Liu; 刘靖康), the founder and CEO of Shenzhen-based Arashi Vision