Zhang Yuifeng, founder and CEO of Wujie Power (无界动力), has offered a compelling prediction for the future of embodied AI. Speaking at the 2026 Yabuli Forum Summer Annual Conference, he drew a parallel between the current state of embodied intelligence and the autonomous driving industry around 2019. This suggests that embodied AI is still in its developmental stages, much like self-driving cars were a few years ago.
Zhang Yuifeng anticipates that within the next five years, embodied AI could reach a level where it possesses the capabilities of an adult human in a work context – able to think and perform labor reliably and dependably. This vision extends beyond industrial applications and into the home environment.
The Evolution of Home Robotics
In the domestic sphere, Zhang believes that robots will achieve adult-level capabilities in about five years. However, he clarified that this timeline doesn’t mean robots won’t enter homes sooner. He pointed to the early success of vacuum cleaning robots as an example of specialized domestic robots excelling at single tasks. The next logical step, he suggested, is for these robots to gain more dexterity, like developing an arm to pick up various objects, including socks or building blocks.
Killer Skills for Household Robots
Zhang estimates that humanoid and semi-humanoid robots might begin appearing in homes within the next two to three years. For this to happen, these robots will need to demonstrate “killer skills” – around three to five high-frequency, essential tasks that users consistently need help with. Examples he provided include autonomously moving dirty clothes to a washing machine, transferring clean clothes to a dryer or clothesline, or clearing leftover food and loading dishes into a dishwasher.
He is confident that mastering three to five such crucial tasks is achievable within the next two to three years, paving the way for more advanced domestic robots.
Zhang Yuifeng’s Background
Zhang Yuifeng is the founder and CEO of Wujie Power. Prior to this role, he served as Vice President and President of the Intelligent Vehicle Business Unit at Horizon Robotics. In his tenure there, he was instrumental in establishing the intelligent driving business system and spearheaded the commercial application of automotive-grade AI chips.
