The year 2026 is set to witness the first real wave of commercial adoption for human-like robots, transitioning them from laboratory experiments and demonstration showcases in 2025 to broader industrial and service use. This shift could redefine the way humans interact with technology in the coming years.
Real Expansion of Human-Like Robots in 2026
According to a recent report by Counterpoint, around 16,000 human-like robots were deployed globally in 2025, with China alone accounting for over 80% of these installations—highlighting Beijing’s early dominance in this emerging sector.
Chinese Dominance and Market Consolidation
The report notes a rapid market consolidation, with the top five companies controlling 73% of the global market. Notably, four of these companies are Chinese.
AGIBOT leads the market with a 31% share, supported by over 5,000 robots currently deployed in hotels, entertainment, and industrial logistics.
Unitree Robotics follows with 27%, leveraging low-cost designs and rapid product launches.
UBTech, Leju Robotics, and Tesla each hold around 5%, with Tesla expected to accelerate growth thanks to its Optimus robot.
From Limited Experiments to Industrial Expansion
Counterpoint predicts 2026 as a turning point for human-like robots, moving from early marketing efforts to large-scale industrial deployment. Key drivers include:
Construction of larger production facilities
Lower component costs
Increased adoption of Robots as a Service (RaaS), allowing companies to utilize robots without large capital investments
Over 100,000 Human-Like Robots by 2027
Looking ahead, the report forecasts that the global stock of deployed human-like robots will exceed 100,000 units by 2027. The logistics, manufacturing, and automotive sectors are expected to account for 72% of new annual capacity.
Counterpoint concludes that human-like robots are transitioning from science fiction and research labs to becoming a major driver of global industrial productivity.
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