Xiaomi’s aspirations to blend automotive and robotic technology face challenges as key executives depart. Wang Naiyan, head of L3 autonomous driving for Xiaomi Auto, has left to start an embodied AI venture that focuses on creating “robot brains.” This follows several other leaders in China’s auto industry transitioning to robotics startups.
Wang, who has a PhD from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a nine-year background in self-driving innovation, aims to develop models capable of adapting to new environments and tasks using reinforcement learning techniques. His new team includes several former colleagues from TuSimple, emphasizing a trend of talent migration in the industry.
Other notable departures include executives from Xpeng and Li Auto, who have similar ambitions in consumer-focused embodied AI. Meanwhile, Nio is trying a different strategy by investing in a startup led by its own autonomous driving chief, allowing for innovation while retaining leadership.
The technical foundation for combining these industries is strong, as the neural networks employed in autonomous driving can also be applied to humanoid robot control, making the transition more viable. Major automakers have already begun integrating robotic systems for various tasks within their manufacturing processes.
However, with Xiaomi losing half of its autonomous driving leadership, its plans for integration across cars, robots, and smart homes could be imperiled. This paints a challenging picture for Xiaomi as competitors solidify their AI frameworks across vehicle and robotic domains.
