Unitree CEO Predicts Humanoid Robots Will Achieve 'ChatGPT Moment' by 2036

At the World Robot Conference in Beijing, Wang Xingxing, the CEO of Unitree Robotics, shared his vision for the future of humanoid robots, predicting they will reach their 'ChatGPT moment' within the next 2 to 10 years. This milestone, according to Wang, will be marked by robots' ability to complete approximately 80% of everyday tasks in unfamiliar settings using only text or voice commands.

Wang's optimistic timeline suggests that rapid advancements could see this breakthrough occur as soon as 2028, while a more conservative estimate pushes it to 2036. He emphasized that this 'ChatGPT moment' would mirror the transformative impact seen in the tech industry following the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022.

During the conference, Wang noted that the robotics sector has made significant strides since last year, when he had predicted a shorter timeline for similar advancements. He highlighted the importance of data accumulation and technological breakthroughs in achieving this goal.

Wang He, founder of Galbot, echoed this sentiment, projecting that the 'ChatGPT moment' for embodied intelligence could be reached by 2028 with continued progress.

The commercial potential is already evident, with Morgan Stanley reporting a 272% increase in global shipments of humanoid robots in the first half of 2026, predominantly from Chinese manufacturers. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has also identified Unitree as a key player in the robotics sector.

Wang's comments came shortly after Unitree's successful IPO, where shares surged 629% on their debut. However, the stock experienced a pullback, closing down 19% the following day.