At the 2026 Global Annual Launch Event, Zhou Jian, the CEO of UBTECH, delved into the topic of robots potentially replacing human workers. He forecasted that within the next 5 to 20 years, a significant number of human jobs will be widely replaced by robots. Consequently, young people in their 20s might encounter a future where employment opportunities are scarce. Zhou emphasized that individuals currently engaged in monotonous and repetitive tasks should consider themselves on borrowed time, as these job conditions are unlikely to persist. He believes that robots will initially take over positions that are challenging to fill and involve harsh working conditions, such as the simple, repetitive tasks found in factories in Wenzhou. In the future, humans should redirect their focus towards creative endeavors, including art and philosophy. Moreover, humanoid robots could bridge the gap in the industrial workforce shortage in European and American countries, thereby lowering manufacturing costs. If China fails to capitalize on this trend, its future cost advantage in manufacturing may diminish.
