June 30, 2026 – UBTECH hosted its worldwide 2026 flagship launch event to lay out its bold vision for the next era of artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics.
Zhou Jian, founder and CEO of UBTECH Robotics, delivered a keynote speech centered on a transformative shift in how humans engage with intelligent systems as the robotics sector matures. He argued that humanoid robots will overtake smartphones to become the primary hardware hub for AI interaction in the near future, marking a full overhaul of existing human-machine communication patterns.
Traditional gadgets including smartphones and personal computers rely on passive manual input methods such as touchscreens, keyboards and mice to exchange information with users. Zhou explained that upcoming robots will flip this dynamic into active communication driven entirely by natural voice commands. This voice-first interactive framework will solidify humanoid robots as the central access point for smart home ecosystems.
Beyond executing verbal requests autonomously, these robotic devices are engineered to deliver consistent emotional companionship, a capability absent from today’s mobile and desktop electronics. Zhou added that next-generation robotic terminals can capture intricate personal preferences with remarkable precision. The machines are able to recognize users’ favorite athletes, preferred meat varieties and other individual habits, proactively suggesting tailored services to match personal tastes.
The CEO labeled this industry shift a landmark technological turning point. He emphasized that advances in artificial intelligence have laid the groundwork for robotic hardware, and the ecosystem built around humanoid robots will eventually outpace the scale and influence of the smartphone industry.
During the same presentation, Zhou shared a major business milestone for the brand’s flagship hyper-realistic humanoid robot lineup, UWorld U1. Cumulative preorders for the U1 series have surpassed 10,000 units, with the company targeting full deliveries of all ordered devices before the end of 2026.
The full-size U1 humanoid robot is designed with emotional companionship as its core selling point, offered in two distinct body variants modeled after male and female human forms. Each unit is fitted with 88 high-flexibility motion joints that enable lifelike, natural body movements mimicking human physical gestures. On a single full charge, the robot maintains an operational battery life ranging from two to four hours.
