China’s humanoid robot industry edges toward ‘ChatGPT moment’ Unitree CEO says

Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing stated at the World Robot Conference in Beijing that the humanoid robot industry is approaching a 'ChatGPT moment' for robot brains, predicting a major AI breakthrough within two to three years. The company's shares fell 11% after surging nearly sixfold in their market debut, highlighting investor enthusiasm. Wang cautioned that a major leap in robot software could arrive in two to three years in an optimistic scenario, or within five to 10 years. He noted that humanoids are not yet capable enough for mass deployment, citing limitations in AI models as the industry's biggest bottleneck. China delivered over 40,000 humanoids in the first half of 2026, accounting for 97% of global shipments, according to a Chinese industry body. The US FCC recently banned imports of foreign-made humanoid robots citing national security concerns.

Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing said at the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing that the humanoid robot industry is approaching a 'ChatGPT moment' for robot brains, predicting a major AI breakthrough within two to three years. The company's shares fell 11% on Thursday after surging nearly sixfold in their Shanghai IPO, reflecting intense investor enthusiasm for a sector backed by Beijing. Wang cautioned that a major leap in robot software could arrive in two to three years in an optimistic scenario, or within five to 10 years. He noted that humanoids are not yet capable enough for mass deployment, citing limitations in AI models as the industry's biggest bottleneck. China delivered over 40,000 humanoids in the first half of 2026, accounting for 97% of global shipments, according to a Chinese industry body. The US FCC recently banned imports of foreign-made humanoid robots citing national security concerns.