Xiaomi deepens push into chips and AI as peers race to develop humanoid robotics

Xiaomi is doubling down on its five-year plan for core technologies including chips, artificial intelligence and operating systems, aiming to position itself as a deep-tech player amid China’s self-reliance push, while peers such as Li Auto and Xpeng accelerate moves into humanoid robotics.

Lei Jun, founder, chairman and CEO of the Beijing-based smartphone and electric vehicle giant, on Tuesday said private technology firms must deepen investment in core technologies and speed up the commercialisation of innovation.

“Private enterprises’ biggest advantage is their proximity to the market and users,” Lei said in an interview with state-run China News Service. “They can respond quickly and rapidly apply new technologies to real-world scenarios, forming scalable products and solutions.”

Xiaomi had invested more than 100 billion yuan (US$14.5 billion) in research and development over the past five years, achieving breakthroughs in self-developed chips and other core technologies, according to the report.

Lei’s remarks echoed comments he made at a company awards ceremony last month, where he said Xiaomi expected to integrate its in-house chip, operating system and self-developed large AI model in a single device this year. At that event, Lei pledged 200 billion yuan over the next five years in core technology research, targeting breakthroughs in foundational areas such as chips, operating systems and AI, while also advancing innovation in robotics.

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun says the biggest advantage of private enterprises is their proximity to the market and users. Photo: Handout

Lei’s interview came about a year after President Xi Jinping met leading private technology entrepreneurs, part of Beijing’s broader effort to bolster private-sector confidence and reinforce resilience in its tech rivalry with the US.

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