China’s AI-driven robots are ‘evolving at an incredibly fast pace’: Unitree CEO

China’s humanoid robot industry is poised for a breakthrough year as artificial intelligence accelerates the pace of change in the field, according to one of the country’s most prominent tech leaders.

Humanoids – robots that resemble humans in shape – are likely to be widely deployed in China’s service and industrial sectors within the next year or two, said Wang Xingxing, CEO of Hangzhou-based start-up Unitree Robotics.

“I believe that by the end of the year, humanoid robots will reach a whole new level.”

In an effort to rally the private sector, Xi met with a group of China’s leading entrepreneurs on Monday and pledged unwavering support for private companies, while calling on the country’s entrepreneurs to “showcase their talents and make significant contributions”.