Chinese start-up Unitree, known for its quadruped robot dogs, is now focusing on humanoid robots, forecasting significant advancements in AI and robot capabilities by 2026.

This week, the company showcased 16 humanoid robots performing Chinese folk dance at the Spring Festival Gala, marking the world’s first large-scale, fully AI-driven humanoid robot performance.

Unitree has been testing its humanoid robots in Chinese EV factories and major trade shows, while competitors like Tesla and Boston Dynamics also expand in this field.

Unitree’s H1 humanoid robot, priced at $90,000, and its smaller G1 version, priced at $16,000, are part of the company’s growing portfolio.

Unitree aims to lower robot prices over time while maintaining profitability, having raised over $1 billion in funding, the South China Morning Post has reported.

The company’s founder, Wang Xingxing, previously built a quadruped robot prototype that gained international attention, leading to the launch of Unitree in 2016.

Written by B.C. Begley