At the 2025 AI Day event, Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) introduced its latest Iron humanoid robot, impressing audiences with its strikingly lifelike appearance. So realistic was the robot that many online viewers suspected a human might be hidden inside the prototype.
The speculation started as scattered social media discussions in China but rapidly became a trending topic, prompting a response from Xpeng's chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng. Speaking on Weibo, he noted that more than half of the online comments questioned the robot’s authenticity.
"This truly leaves our robotics team both delighted and amused. Some people just can't believe how fast the world is changing."
To dispel the rumors, He Xiaopeng shared an unedited video demonstrating that the Iron robot is fully mechanical. Standing beside the robot, he pointed out audible wind noise from internal cooling and highlighted intricate details including a microphone array near its ears and the design of its hand.
"Tesla's robot can't walk this smoothly -- there's no way this is possible."
These advancements contribute to the robot's naturalistic movements and lifelike appearance, setting it apart in the evolving field of robotics.
Author's summary: Xpeng's new Iron humanoid robot stunned audiences with its realistic design, sparking viral debate before the company confirmed it is a fully autonomous machine equipped with advanced bionic features.