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Humanoid Robots' 'ChatGPT Moment' Could Arrive in Just 2-3 Years, Says UBTech CEO

Humanoid robots have come a long way—from shaky first steps to boxing and dancing. But the real breakthrough, when they can actually work instead of just show off, might be closer than you think.

On July 22, at the 2026 World Internet Conference Digital Silk Road Development Forum in Xi'an, Wang Xingxing, founder and CEO of UBTech (often referred to as HuaZhu), took the stage with a bold prediction: the 'ChatGPT moment' for embodied intelligence could hit in just two or three years.

What does that mean exactly? Wang described a high bar: robots that can walk into most unfamiliar environments and start working right away, handling basic tasks smoothly—no need for pre-loaded action libraries or human remote control. That's the threshold where robots shift from being cool demos to actually useful tools.

Recent progress has been impressive. Robots are walking, dancing, even sparring in martial arts, and performing simple services. Wang believes this acceleration will push them over the edge into real-world applications sooner than most expect.

Key Points

  • Timeline: Wang Xingxing predicts the 'ChatGPT moment' for humanoid robots within 2-3 years.
  • Threshold: Robots will work in unfamiliar environments without pre-programming or remote control.
  • Progress: Recent advances in walking, dancing, and basic services signal rapid acceleration.