Unitree CEO: Humanoid Robots Approaching ‘ChatGPT Moment’

Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing announced that the humanoid robot industry is close to its “ChatGPT moment” for robot intelligence. This comes as Unitree’s shares fell by 11% after an initial surge following its Shanghai listing.

Key Figures

• Unitree shares dropped by 11% post-listing.
• Robots could perform 80% of tasks in unfamiliar environments with voice or text commands, according to Wang Xingxing.
• A major software advancement is optimistically two to three years away, or at most five to ten years.
• Galbot founder Wang He anticipates the sector’s “ChatGPT moment” by 2028.

Wang Xingxing believes this breakthrough will allow robots to handle approximately 80% of tasks in new environments using simple commands. This capability would mirror ChatGPT’s impact on large language models.

Software Breakthrough Timeline

Despite the excitement, Wang cautioned that significant progress in robot software is still a few years out. He optimistically projects a two to three-year timeframe, or a maximum of five to ten years for this advancement.

Georg Stieler, head of automation at robotics consultancy Stieler, noted Wang’s realistic assessment amid the enthusiasm surrounding Unitree’s IPO and the World Robot Conference. Separately, Wang He, founder of Chinese robotics startup Galbot, expects the sector’s “ChatGPT moment” by 2028, where robots perform 70% to 80% of everyday tasks without specific training.

Market Dominance and Challenges

Unitree is recognized as the world’s largest producer of robot dogs and the second-largest manufacturer of humanoid robots by shipments. Universities and research institutions are currently its main customers.

• China delivered over 40,000 humanoids in the first half of the year.
• This accounts for 97% of global humanoid shipments.

Wang admitted Unitree is “lagging behind” in real-world physical AI model applications. He cited current AI models for robot decision-making and interaction as the biggest bottleneck preventing mass humanoid deployment.

The humanoid robot sector has also emerged as a battleground in the U.S.-China technology rivalry. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission recently banned future imports of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots due to national security concerns.

Despite these hurdles, Wang foresees a decade of rapid autonomous evolution for humanoid robots, driven by the accelerating AI boom. Beijing views robots as a solution for its shrinking workforce, targeting repetitive, low-value, and dangerous jobs.