- The October 22 event will bring together more than 3,000 guests and feature Unitree’s full robot lineup
- The company will also use the conference to expand its open-source ecosystem and connect startups with industry resources
Chinese humanoid robotics maker Unitree will host the 2026 World Physical AI Conference and Unitree Partner Ecosystem Conference on October 22 in Hangzhou, as it seeks to build a broader ecosystem around physical AI.
The event will be held at the second phase of the Hangzhou International Expo Center and feature a main forum, seven parallel sessions and more than 40 exhibition areas, Unitree said in an official WeChat on September 28.
More than 3,000 guests are expected to attend, including industry executives and technology experts from around the world.
The conference will showcase Unitree’s full range of robots and its open-source embodied-AI ecosystem. It will also feature startup pitches under the company’s Yuchuang Plan (宇创计划), which aims to connect emerging projects with industrial and investment resources.
Physical AI has emerged as a major focus for companies including Nvidia and Unitree as they seek to bring AI into machines that can perceive and act in the physical world.
The potential of physical AI
Nvidia Vice President Rev Lebaredian has said physical AI could unlock a $1 trillion-plus market in the physical economy, potentially making it 100 times larger than the IT industry.
Unitree founder Wang Xingxing has previously said embodied AI’s “ChatGPT moment” will require robots to complete 80% of tasks in 80% of unfamiliar environments using only voice instructions.
He estimated that milestone could arrive within two to three years at the earliest, or five to 10 years under a slower trajectory.
Pivot to ecosystem building
Unitree’s conference marks a shift from product launches toward ecosystem building. The event is open to global partners, while the Yuchuang Plan will bring embodied-AI startups into the company’s broader network of developers and industrial partners.
Unitree has already partnered with Hong Kong Telecom to provide physical-AI solutions to enterprises in Hong Kong and other markets, covering installation, training, technical support and maintenance.
The October event will offer a closer look at whether Unitree can turn its growing robot lineup and open-source strategy into a broader platform for physical AI development.
Header image credit: Unitree’s official WeChat
