Late last month, an online leak revealed that automaker BYD was launching Xiao Di, its very own humanoid robot. Now, the brand says that it’ll make an appearance early this month. Several outlets in China received communications about the new robot, as well as the early August reveal.
Exactly when it’ll launch remains a mystery, but the teaser includes the line, “At the beginning of August, a new friend wants to meet you.” The initial leak showed a version of the robot that looks almost cartoonish. Other images being shared present a more utilitarian aspect.
Xiao Di due
Some slight confirmation of the robot’s capabilities was presented along with the announcement. It’ll definitely spend time inside BYD’s dealerships, acting as an assistant of sorts. Xiao Di is supposed to welcome and interact with visitors, explain vehicles (specifically, the company’s EVs), and conduct product demonstrations.
Until the full unveiling, we don’t know what those might look like. It’s possible to put an assistant AI into a stationary shell and achieve most of this. Much more impressive would be seeing it open bonnets and doors while explaining what’s happening in the vehicle.
Previous details — the robot’s weight, height, and movement capacities — suggest that it’ll move around. Perhaps it’ll grab coffee for folks in the waiting room. It’s supposed to have a carrying capacity of 1kg in its 162cm frame, so it should be able to handle a tray. The robot isn’t expected to be a prototype model, either. It’ll be fully production-ready, but BYD hasn’t said whether folks can buy these or if they’re completing their internships first.
It’s unlikely that the Xiao Di robot will go fully international, though we might see one or two at a local dealership. Americans probably won’t be so lucky, with that country’s government cracking down on Chinese humanoid robotics, citing “supply chain vulnerabilities that could disrupt US economic and national security.”
