Last week, XPENG, one of China’s top EV makers, generated a wave of media attention. But not for its cars.
On November 5th, at XPENG’s annual “AI Day” (科技日) event, the founder of the company, He Xiaopeng (何小鹏), unveiled XPENG’s humanoid robot, “IRON”.
What was meant to be a simple technical demo, with IRON performing a brief catwalk, sparked unexpected controversy. The robot’s unusually human-like movements prompted online followers and commentators to question whether it was actually a robot at all:
“This must be a real person in a suit—there must be someone inside!”
这肯定是真人套壳，里面一定有人！
As one industry observer noted:
“When people are uncertain whether it’s a robot or a human, it means that the robot has reached a level of realism that people naturally compare it to humans.
This kind of debate actually reflects the industry’s ambition for robots.”
“当一个机器人被质疑是真人时，说明大家已经在用人的标准来看待它了，这种争论恰好证明了行业对机器人的想象力。” [1]
IRON’s life-like feminine appearance amplified the online discussions even further.
He Xiaopeng initially responded on social media with humour, taking it as a compliment, saying:
“Thank you for your recognition!”
感谢认可！
But when the speculation still did not subside, he released an unedited, “single shot” (一镜到底) video on November 6th to directly address the accusation that a human was inside IRON.
Talking during the recording, he said:
“The team’s feelings right now are quite mixed: we’re happy that the technology is being recognized by everyone, but also finding it somewhat absurd that we’re not being trusted.”
“团队这会儿心情挺复杂的，既因为技术被大家认可而高兴，又因为不被信任有点哭笑不得。”
In the video, staff unzipped IRON’s back, revealing the skeletal frame, the webbed white bionic muscle structure, and a load of controllers and flashing lights inside — clear proof, you would think, there was no person hidden within.
Yet speculation continued to swirl online.
So at an XPENG launch event for one of its new EVs the following day, the company went further to dispels doubters online. Several employees directly cut open the ‘skin’ and ‘muscles’ of the robot’s legs, before it did another catwalk on stage, to prove once and for all that it was indeed a robot.
Related:
The release of IRON shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s been following XPENG.
Its first iteration, the IRON “engineer version” (工程版), was unveiled at company’s AI Day at the same time last year. And XPENG has been investing heavily in humanoid robotics for the last seven years.
The company’s repositioning gives a clear signal of its future direction: as a “global embodied intelligence company” (面向全球的具身智能公司).
Chinese automotive manufacturers like XPENG are investing heavily in humanoid robot R&D.
This is partly because robots and cars share many of the same components. As an example, around 70% of perception systems, domain controllers, and AI software are identical between the two. And automotive production lines have already begun using humanoid robots for algorithm training and data collection.
In a media interview in February this year, He Xiaopeng articulated his broader vision for the company:
“AI’s greatest value lies in transforming the physical world, not just the digital one.
Changes in the digital world happen fast but have shallow impact, while changes in the physical world are slower but have deeper impact.
I’m more interested in using AI to transform the physical world—through cars, through robots.”
“AI的最大价值在于改变物理世界，不仅是改变数字世界。数字世界的改变速度快，但影响浅；物理世界速度慢，但影响深。我更想通过AI来改变物理世界（如汽车、机器人）。” [3]
IRON’s initial commercial applications will be to provide services like tour guide, shop assistant, and patrol staff. The rollout will start with IRON robots working in dealerships, explaining products to customers. So more of an attraction (or 打卡点 in Chinese), rather than a genuine replacement for human staff.
But the XPENG founder sees a much bigger long-term opportunity. Over the next 10-20 years, he predicts robotics will become a $20 trillion market—double the size of the global automotive industry.
The debut of IRON is also a reminder that Chinese companies like XPENG are advancing at pace in sectors such as humanoid robotics and embodied intelligence (具身智能), which have been traditionally dominated by American and Japanese firms.
One popular quote in the media this week, is how Chinese companies are shifting from “following” (跟跑) their competitors to “leading” (领跑) them.
So that’s what we’re exploring this week!
Favourite Five
1. 仿生 fǎng shēng
bionic, biomimetic
仿生是机器人走向家庭、养老等场景的基础条件 - For robots to be accepted in everyday settings, such as households or eldercare, they need to have human-like qualities. [1]
2. 逼真 bī zhēn
lifelike, realistic
仿生人形的细节逼真到让观众忍不住惊叹 - The lifelike details of the humanoid robot leave the audience in awe. [4]
Related:
冒充 mào chōng – pretend to be
真人假扮 zhēn rén jiǎ bàn – real person in disguise
3. 具身智能 jù shēn zhì néng
embodied intelligence
在小鹏如今官方的定位，已经从去年刚喊出来的”面向全球的AI汽车公司”升级为”面向全球的具身智能公司” - Xpeng’s official positioning has now been pivoted from last year’s “global AI car company” to “global embodied intelligence company”.
Related:
物理AI wù lǐ AI – physical AI
4. 哭笑不得 kū xiào bù dé
not know whether to laugh or cry
既因为技术被大家认可而高兴，又因为不被信任有点哭笑不得 - We’re happy that the technology is being recognized by everyone, but also finding it somewhat absurd that we’re not being trusted. [4]
5. 不鸣则已，一鸣惊人 bù míng zé yǐ, yì míng jīng rén
silent for a long time, then amaze everyone with one move
小鹏机器人惊艳全网，行业大地震：不鸣则已，一鸣惊人 - From Silence to Spotlight: XPENG’s robot made a stunning debut and shook the industry. [4]
🎧RTM Podcast Preview
This week on the RTM Advanced podcast, we explain three techy phrases which you need to know to discuss this story, which all can all be translated as “lifelike”!
“bionic” (仿生)
“humanlike” (拟人)
“lifelike” (逼真)
Tune in at 7 minutes where we break down what they mean and the stories behind them…
How native speakers use them…
And how you can use them in real conversations right now and show off your amazing Chinese!
Consuming the Conversation
💡 Ready to get inspired to bridge the gap to real-world fluency? 💡
In every RTM Advanced post you unlock content and tools to inspire you, and help you get fluent.
So, ready to finally get started and wave goodbye to that nagging rusty feeling?
Let’s jump in👇
Consuming the Conversation
Useful words
6. 拟人 nǐ rén
anthropomorphic, humanlike
步态太过拟人 - The way it walks resembles much like a human. [1]
7. 丝滑 sī huá
smooth, seamless
为什么不同于大多数机器人僵硬、卡顿的行动姿态，小鹏机器人在行走时能如此丝滑拟人 - Why is XPENG’s robot able to walk with such smooth and humanlike motion, unlike other robots, whose movements are stiff and jerky? [1]
Related:
轻盈 qīng yíng – light, airy
精巧 jīng qiǎo - delicate, exquisite
僵直 jiāng zhí – stiff, rigid
8. 闭环 bì huán
closed loop
从2020年开始，小鹏正在打造一个汽车和机器人的闭环 - Since 2020, Xiaopeng has been integrating cars and robots into a single system. [1]
9. 迭代 dié dài
iteration, upgrade
未来也将反向驱动机器人技术的迭代 - In the future, it will also drive the evolution of robotic technology. [1]
10. 曲折 qū zhé
winding, complicated
相比于曲折前行的汽车赛道，何小鹏相信，机器人一旦越过技术和产品拐点，便会进入高速增长期 - Compared with the more gradual trajectory of the automotive industry, He Xiaopeng believes that once robots overcome the technological and product hurdles, they will enter a period of rapid growth. [1]
11. 步态 bù tài
gait, walking pattern
步态控制并不是IRON的创新点，在目前的行业发展水平下这并不是什么难事 - Gait control is not what makes IRON stand out, as this is nothing difficult given the current state of the industry. [2]
12. 突围 tū wéi
break through, find a way out
这不仅是小鹏的突围，更预示着中国在智能出行、人形机器人、低空经济这些万亿级赛道上，正在从“跟跑”转向“领跑” - It marks not only XPENG’s breakthrough but also China’s shift from follower to forerunner in trillion-yuan sectors like smart mobility, humanoid robots, and low-altitude economy. [4]
Related:
主攻 zhǔ gōng - focus on, specialize in
13. 惊叹 jīng tàn
marvel, exclaim in admiration
有人惊叹，现在的机器人技术已经发展到如此先进的地步了吗？ - Some couldn’t help but wonder: Has robotics really come this far? [5]
Related:
惊险 jīng xiǎn – thrilling, dangerous
