Just posted to my Forbes column about one of the biggest names in humanoid robotics right now: Agibot. The Shanghai-based company says it shipped more than 5,000 humanoid robots in 2025 alone and now operates in more than 17 countries. I interviewed Dr. Yao Maoqing, president of Agibot’s embodied business unit, about where those robots are actually being deployed, what’s holding the industry back, and why he believes humanoid robotics is moving from the demo phase into real-world industrial adoption.
One of the most interesting takeaways is that Agibot doesn’t see homes as the first big market. Instead, the company expects humanoid robots to scale first in factories, logistics, retail, inspection, and commercial services, where tasks are repetitive, ROI is measurable, and real deployment data can improve future systems. Dr. Maoqing argues the real tipping point won’t come from flashy demos or production numbers alone, but from robots reliably delivering productivity in live environments over time.
“We are witnessing a fundamental shift in the industry narrative from ‘what can robots do?’ to ‘can robots truly create productivity?'”
The conversation also dives into China’s robotics advantage, why deployment speed matters more than demo videos, concerns around privacy and trust, the rise of Robot-as-a-Service pricing models, and how humans and humanoid robots may eventually work side-by-side rather than in direct competition.
Read the full post here: World’s Biggest Humanoid Robot Maker Says Tipping Point Is Near