Unitree Founder: Robotics’ “ChatGPT Moment” Could Happen in 1-5 Years

The robotics industry could experience a breakthrough akin to a “ChatGPT moment” within the next one to five years, according to the founder of a Chinese robotics startup.

This pivotal moment will occur when humanoid robots can seamlessly hand a bottle of water to a person seated among a crowd in an unfamiliar setting, all while following the owner’s instructions, the entrepreneur explained during the 2025 World Robot Conference.

The five-day conference, held in Beijing starting August 8, centered around themes like “Making Robots Smarter” and “Enhancing Embodied Intelligence,” with a focus on cutting-edge global robotics technology and the industrialization of humanoid robots.

Over the past six months, the company’s founder observed significant advancements in artificial intelligence for robotics. For instance, their robots, which historically moved stiffly in January, have since improved to run more smoothly and navigate complex terrains effectively.

The greatest hurdle facing humanoid robots today is that embodied intelligence models based on large language models are still lacking. The foundational architecture of these models remains inconsistent and inadequate, making it challenging to leverage vast data pools efficiently, he explained.

“In AI development, having more resources, funding, or personnel doesn’t automatically translate into creating the world’s best technology,” he said. Small- and medium-sized teams still have plenty of opportunities to innovate and shine in developing embodied intelligence systems.

The current hardware technology for robots can be described as “functional but with room for enhancement,” he added. The industry needs increased shipment volumes, reduced costs, and improved reliability to advance further.

Looking ahead two to five years, key development areas will include unified, end-to-end intelligent robot models, more affordable hardware with longer durability, large-scale manufacturing, and the deployment of low-cost, high-capacity computing resources, he predicted.

The company’s goal is to create versatile, general-purpose humanoid robots capable of handling a wide range of tasks—from daily life assistance and factory work to stage performances—though progress in this area remains ongoing, he admitted.

He also revealed that the startup has entered the early stages of preparing for an initial public offering, viewing it as a significant milestone towards more mature management and operational capabilities.