According to the CEO of Unitree, a prominent Chinese robot developer, a significant hurdle remains for humanoid robots to achieve mainstream adoption: the current limitations in artificial intelligence. While robotics firms and research institutes explore various approaches, key hardware and software breakthroughs are still necessary.
Unitree, founded in 2016, began its humanoid robot project in 2023. Their robots have demonstrated agility, performing complex martial arts moves. The company does not plan to launch household models in the near future due to safety concerns. The rise of humanoid robots performing tasks has fuelled debate about their real-world usefulness and commercial viability. Performances serve to showcase technological advancements and generate short-term commercial value.
Unitree's CEO noted the industry must meet the challenge of achieving large-scale production at lower costs, while building durable machines. He predicts that within the next couple of years, robots will acquire generalised capabilities for commercial and household applications, such as tidying rooms and delivering items.
