Robots poised for ‘ChatGPT moment,’ says Unitree CEO

Unitree, a leading Chinese humanoid robot company, anticipates a significant milestone akin to the ChatGPT moment for AI-powered machines. Unitree's CEO, Wang Xingxing, made this assertion at a major robot conference in Beijing. The company recently completed a blockbuster IPO in Shanghai, catapulting China's ambitions to spearhead the next frontier of AI-powered machines. However, shares in Unitree fell 11% shortly after the IPO, indicating investor caution despite the sector's strong backing from Beijing.

Wang Xingxing envisions a future where robots can adeptly handle most tasks in unfamiliar environments using voice or text instructions alone. He anticipates that by 2028, robots could successfully execute approximately 80% of everyday tasks without specialized training. However, he does not rule out a longer timeline, suggesting a possible range between two to ten years for this breakthrough.

Wang attributes the industry's progress to the recent surge in interest in "world models," AI simulation systems designed to help robots navigate and understand real-world environments.