XPeng and the Skepticism Around Humanoid Robots
Similar to how Elon Musk's robots were initially mocked as mere "human cosplay," XPeng's humanoid robots, led by He Xiaopeng, have recently faced comparable scrutiny in China. To prove their capabilities, XPeng had to demonstrate and "dissect" one of their robots publicly.
XPeng's Household Robot NEO
Despite the launch of pre-sales for NEO, touted as the world's first household robot, many remain skeptical. For instance, Linlin, an alias user on Xiaohongshu, found that the $200 deposit-based purchase required manual remote operation. While NEO can handle some basic household tasks independently, it must call headquarters staff for guidance in unfamiliar situations. Personnel then assess the home environment via cameras and remotely control the robot.
"After realizing that she might spend $20,000 on a 'puppet robot,' Linlin accepted it with understanding: 'Anyway, there is a user data privacy agreement, and there are cameras everywhere these days. Technological progress always needs user support. I'll just support it.'"
Challenges and Market Reactions
New technologies like humanoid robots demand significant tolerance from early users. This is similar to the reception of Tesla's Optimus robot, which has faced its third production delay recently. Despite these setbacks, Tesla's stock price remained resilient, with its market value now surpassing $1.5 trillion.
“A few days ago, Tesla postponed the mass-production plan of Optimus again. This is the third time the production of this robot has been ‘delayed.’ However, Tesla’s stock price was hardly affected, and its market value has now exceeded $1.5 trillion.”
XPeng and Tesla exemplify the challenges and market patience surrounding humanoid robot development.
Author’s summary: New advancements in humanoid robots, exemplified by XPeng’s NEO and Tesla’s Optimus, face skepticism and delays but rely heavily on user acceptance and market tolerance for technological progress.