Unitree Robotics

The World Humanoid Robot Games 2025 commenced in Beijing, featuring humanoid robots in athletic competitions. Unitree Robotics’ H1 excelled in the 1500-meter race, achieving a leading time of 7 minutes 10 seconds. Shandong Ubtech’s “Walker Taishan” also drew attention after losing an arm mid-race, yet it remarkably finished, earning applause for its perseverance. CNBC AI News will provide continued coverage of the event.

At the 2025 World Robot Conference, Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing discussed the potential for taxing robots as they enter the workforce. He suggested taxing robots based on their generated value, even proposing their use in undeveloped land with output shared with the state, contingent on advanced capabilities. He also addressed price differences in Unitree’s robot models, stating that smaller, less sophisticated robots would be more affordable, aiming for wider adoption through tiered pricing strategy.

At the 2025 World Robot Conference, Unitree Robotics CEO Wang Xingxing discussed the pricing strategy for their new R1 humanoid robot (starting at ¥39,900). The R1, designed for development and customization, weighs 25Kg and integrates large language models for multi-modal interaction. Wang explained that the lower price point compared to the G1 reflects a model-specific approach, aiming to increase adoption by offering more affordable options within their robot product lines. Unitree previously launched the H1 and G1 humanoid robots.

At the 2025 World Robot Conference, Unitree Robotics CEO Wang Xingxing emphasized the need for robust and unified “embodied intelligence robot foundation models,” citing them as the industry’s core bottleneck. He believes current robotic model architectures are lacking, and the industry needs a “ChatGPT moment.” Unitree is focused on developing general-purpose humanoid robots for diverse tasks and sees unified models, affordable hardware, high-volume manufacturing, and accessible computational power as key priorities for the next 2-5 years.

Unitree Robotics is showcasing its G1 robot at WAIC 2025 in Shanghai, captivating attendees with a sparring match against a human. The agile robot, equipped with boxing gear, demonstrates impressive combat skills and resilience. This display highlights advancements in robotic dexterity and control. Robot combat, while currently human-controlled, serves as a learning tool for AI development, potentially leading to breakthroughs in practical applications like elder care and delivery services.

At the Tianjin Summer Davos, Unitree Robotics CEO Xingxing Wang highlighted the robotics industry’s potential as the “next big thing,” positioning Unitree to capitalize on this trend. He credited Hangzhou’s business environment and the company’s clear goals for its rapid growth. From a one-man operation in 2016, Unitree now employs over 1,000 people and generates over 1 billion yuan in annual revenue, holding a strong patent portfolio with over 330 patents filed.

The rise of humanoid robots, particularly Unitree’s G1, fueled a burgeoning “robot rental” market. Initially, high demand and limited supply led to lucrative daily rental fees (up to RMB 20,000). Early adopters, like Huanmeng Technology, profited from exhibitions and rentals. However, increased competition and decreased hype resulted in a price drop and market chaos. Despite setbacks, operators are actively exploring new features and collaborations, highlighting the market’s volatile but dynamic nature.

Unitree Robotics, formerly Hangzhou Unitree Technology, rebranded, sparking IPO speculation. Discussions with Hong Kong’s Chief Executive about a potential listing and the company’s global expansion plans, fueled by rapid growth and talent demands, suggest an aggressive future direction. The restructuring’s timing is significant, despite the company’s claims that it will not affect current operations.