Humanoid robots may reach a breakthrough moment by 2028, industry expert says

[Photo: China Daily]

The humanoid robot industry could experience a breakthrough similar to the rise of ChatGPT by the end of 2028, as advances in artificial intelligence models, data collection, and robotics accelerate, according to Wang He, founder and chief technology officer of Beijing-based Galbot Co Ltd.

Wang said the industry’s next major milestone will depend on the development of powerful embodied artificial intelligence models capable of allowing robots to understand and perform tasks in real-world environments. His comments were reported by China Daily.

The term “ChatGPT moment” has been widely used in the technology sector to describe the point when a new technology moves beyond specialist applications and gains widespread public recognition due to its practical value.

According to Wang, combining large-scale pre-trained models with improved training methods could allow humanoid robots to complete unfamiliar tasks with success rates of between 70% and 80%, provided they are supported by sufficient and diverse training data.

Galbot was among the companies invited to a private enterprise symposium hosted by Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, in Beijing earlier this week. The meeting focused on reviewing economic performance in the first half of the year and gathering recommendations for future development.

Public interest in humanoid robots has grown alongside rapid technological progress. At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Galbot’s exhibition attracted large crowds as visitors watched its G1 robot prepare breakfast, toast bread, and pour drinks.

The demonstration highlighted the potential of robots to adapt to unexpected situations. Visitors attempted to disrupt the robot’s routine by moving objects, changing the position of items, and creating obstacles. The robot was able to adjust its movements, identify new positions, and complete tasks without interruption.

Wang said the future development of humanoid robots depends on creating an integrated “brain and body” system, combining artificial intelligence models with advanced movement and control capabilities. He described embodied intelligence models as a key pathway toward more capable general-purpose robots.

China’s humanoid robot sector has already entered a period of rapid expansion. According to figures released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the country produced about 20,000 humanoid robots in 2025, with output exceeding 40,000 units in the first half of this year and expected to surpass 100,000 units for the full year.

However, experts cautioned that rapid production growth does not necessarily mean the industry has reached maturity. Xie Shaofeng, chairman of the ministry’s humanoid robot and embodied intelligence standardization technical committee, said the sector still faces challenges, including fragmented technological approaches, a lack of unified standards, and questions over long-term development.

Vice-Minister of Industry and Information Technology Ke Jixin said the next two to three years will be critical for the sector as it shifts from prototype development and demonstrations toward large-scale commercial production.

Experts noted that mass adoption will require more than increasing output. Companies will need common standards to ensure compatibility between components, consistent performance evaluations, and clearer safety requirements.

The ministry’s technical committee is working on standards covering areas such as robot intelligence classification, data management, and safety specifications. The first group of standards is expected to be released by the end of this year, according to Jiang Lei, deputy director of the committee. MDT