> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://news.theresarobotforthat.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Xiaomi humanoids will run factories in five years - URL: https://news.theresarobotforthat.com/xiaomi-humanoids-will-run-factories-in-five-years/ - Published: 2025-12-01T19:20:36.000Z - Updated: 2025-12-01T19:20:36.000Z - Description: PLUS: UBTECH battles fake video claims, WSJ's reality check, and a robot construction worker - Author: Ulrich Baldauf - Tags: Newsletter ## Welcome back to your Robot Briefing Xiaomi's CEO just put a hard deadline on the humanoid factory worker: five years until his company's manufacturing lines are staffed with robots, backed by AI systems already outpacing human inspectors by a factor of ten. It's an ambitious timeline that assumes the tech will scale as fast as the hype. Can humanoid robots really handle the chaos of real-world production floors that quickly, or is this another case of promises outrunning reality? In today's Robot update: Xiaomi plans humanoid factory workers within five years UBTECH claps back at Figure CEO's fake video claims WSJ says home robots are still decades away Construction robot conquers rough terrain in Shenzhen News ### Xiaomi: Humanoid Robots Will Run Smart Factories Within 5 Years **Snapshot:** Xiaomi CEO [Lei Jun announced](https://www.ithome.com/0/901/025.htm?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) a strategic push to deploy humanoid robots extensively across the company's manufacturing lines over the next five years, building on current AI successes that have already made quality control ten times faster than human workers. Breakdown: Xiaomi's car factory already uses **AI-powered X-ray inspection** that checks large cast parts in just 2 seconds—10 times faster and 5 times more accurate than human inspectors. The company plans to deploy humanoid robots across its factories to handle repetitive, precision-demanding, and physically challenging tasks, freeing human workers to focus on engineering and higher-level roles. Lei Jun believes the **home robotics market** will eventually surpass the industrial market in size, as household applications require robots to meet more complex and varied user needs. **Takeaway:** Xiaomi's aggressive timeline signals that humanoid robots in manufacturing are moving from experimental to operational reality faster than many anticipated. This shift positions the company to lead both industrial automation and the emerging consumer robotics space simultaneously. News ### UBTECH Fires Back at 'Fake Video' Claims from Figure CEO **Snapshot:** Chinese robotics company UBTECH [defended its mass production video](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1349396.shtml?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) after Figure CEO Brett Adcock claimed on X that the footage showing hundreds of Walker S2 humanoid robots was computer-generated imagery, releasing raw footage and reaffirming ambitious production targets. Breakdown: Adcock claimed on November 14 that UBTECH's video showing synchronized Walker S2 robots marching into shipping containers was **CGI based on reflections** , alleging only the front robot was real while everything behind it was fake. UBTECH released unedited, single-take footage with original audio and invited critics to "come to China" and see the robotics industry firsthand, stating the November 12 video was **100% real footage** shot on-site at their facility. The company targets **annual production capacity** of 5,000 industrial humanoid robots by 2026 and 10,000 units by 2027, with deployments planned across automobile manufacturing, smart logistics, and embodied-intelligence data centers. **Takeaway:** This public dispute highlights the intensifying competition between US and Chinese robotics companies as the industry moves from prototypes to mass production. UBTECH's response underscores China's supply chain advantages and manufacturing capabilities that many Western observers may underestimate as the humanoid robotics race accelerates. News ### Opinion: Why Humanoid Robots Are Still Far From Home Adoption **Snapshot:** A Wall Street Journal opinion piece argues that despite viral laundry-folding videos, humanoid robots [remain decades away from reliable household utility](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/humanoid-robots-have-a-long-way-to-go-4ae1b4f2?gaa%5Fat&ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com), drawing parallels to the overhyped Honda Asimo from 2000\. Breakdown: The piece recalls Honda's Asimo humanoid robot from 2000, which promised a robot in every household but now sits in a museum as a reminder of **premature expectations** about domestic robotics. While social media buzzes with videos of robots folding laundry and brewing espresso, these demonstrations mask the fundamental challenge: robots still struggle to perform **complex hand tasks** reliably in real-world environments. The current wave of humanoid robot investments mirrors past hype cycles, suggesting the path from controlled demonstrations to practical home assistants remains far longer than many investors and enthusiasts anticipate. **Takeaway:** The robotics industry continues to repeat a familiar pattern where impressive demonstrations create unrealistic timelines for mass adoption. Understanding this gap between prototype performance and real-world reliability helps set more realistic expectations for when humanoid assistants might actually arrive in our homes. News ### Humanoid Robot Masters Complex Terrain in Construction Demo **Snapshot:** A humanoid robot successfully navigated a construction site in Shenzhen, demonstrating human-level stability on uneven terrain. The test showcases advancing locomotive control systems designed for rugged industrial environments where traditional automation falls short. Breakdown: The demonstration highlights progress in real-world mobility, with the robot maintaining balance across debris, slopes, and unstable surfaces that challenge wheeled or tracked systems. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun predicts humanoid robots will work in [Xiaomi factories within five years](https://www.ithome.com/0/901/025.htm?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com), marking a shift from controlled lab tests to mass industrial deployment in manufacturing facilities. AI-powered quality control systems already show the manufacturing potential, with X-ray inspection achieving **10x efficiency** and over 5x precision compared to human workers in detecting defects invisible to the naked eye. **Takeaway:** Construction sites and factories represent the proving ground where humanoid robots must handle unpredictable conditions before entering homes. The Shenzhen demo and Xiaomi's deployment timeline signal that industrial robots are moving from prototype phase to practical workforce integration. ### Other Top Robot Stories **Physical Intelligence - Bezos-Backed Startup** [raised](https://www.physicalintelligence.company/blog/pistar06?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) $400M with a new technique that helps robots learn from their own mistakes. Their upgraded π\*0.6 model ran continuously making espresso drinks for 18 hours straight and folded 50 different clothing items in new environments. **Market 19** [serves](https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2025/11/28/D37KQDR4HFB4TM2NHBUP7YCSSI/?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) US Army soldiers at Camp Walker in South Korea as a fully automated mess hall where robots prepare Korean dishes including bibimbap and kimchi fried rice. The six-month pilot will determine whether to expand the system to other military bases. **Goldman Sachs** [predicts](https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/11/28/humanoid-robot-orders-and-shipments-could-multiply-2026-goldman-sachs.html?ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) humanoid robot orders will surge dramatically starting in 2026, driven by maturing supply chains and China's transition toward domestic chip manufacturing. Supply chain readiness is reaching a critical threshold for mass production. **Schaeffler** [partnered](https://www.schaeffler.de/en/news%5Fmedia/press%5Freleases/press%5Freleases%5Fdetail.jsp?id=88152707&ref=news.theresarobotforthat.com) with Nanyang Technological University to open a 900 sq m robotics lab in Singapore. The company will both supply components to humanoid manufacturers and deploy humanoids in its own factories. **🤖 Your robotics thought for today:** What's something you've gotten better at \*because\* it was hard—and how do we make sure robots don't rob the next generation of that same growth? P.S. What's your take on this? Until tomorrow, Uli