The hardest thing for a robot to do is become useful
The real test for a robot is not whether it can walk, dance or impress investors. It is whether it turns up for work every day, reliably and economically.
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Two humanoid robots from Unitree Robotics demonstrate kickboxing during the World Robot Conference in Beijing on Aug 19.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Mohan Rajesh Elara
Two things happened in 2026. Unitree Robotics priced its Shanghai initial public offering (IPO) at a valuation of about 61 billion yuan (S$11.5 billion), putting it on track to become China’s first publicly listed humanoid robot manufacturer. Investor demand was extraordinary, with the retail tranche more than 8,000 times oversubscribed. Its shares ended their first day of trading on Aug 19 up by more than 460 per cent.
More quietly, Singapore became a super-aged society in 2026. More than one in five of us are now 65 or older. By 2030, it will be one in four.