Is it all show or truly useful? Don't be deceived by XPeng Robotics.

It's confirmed, without any suspense. The XPeng robot is indeed real, not someone inside pretending to be a robot.

To be honest, like everyone else, I was a bit skeptical when I first saw the video of the robot making a catwalk entrance. It wasn't until Mr. He Xiaopeng did a one - take unveiling and even cut the skin on the robot's calf on - site that this doubt was completely dispelled.

But here comes the question. For such a humanoid robot that has attracted a huge amount of attention, can walk an elegant catwalk but looks frail and ineffectual, even though it has made an appearance, if we use the common catchphrase of primary school students to ask: So what? What's next?

Yes, What's next?

Mr. He Xiaopeng personally stepped in to "debunk the fake", with a "one - take" and "on - site skinning" to prove the "true identity" of the robot. His attitude and courage are worthy of praise. This at least shows that we are not watching CG or special effects, but a real engineering entity.

But the problem is, "Real" doesn't equal "useful", and "able to walk" doesn't equal "able to work".

This wave of popularity is truly "overwhelming", and the whole network is discussing this "catwalk - walking" robot. But as onlookers, we can't just keep praising it. We also need to peel off this gorgeous "coat" and see if it contains "the future" or just "empty talk".

To be honest, I've seen quite a few "doubts".

"The first mass - produced" or "still in research"? This label is too "lofty"

Let's put aside the amazing actions of the IRON robot and talk about its "status" issue first.

The promotional positioning given by XPeng officially is really exciting - "China's first mass - produced high - level humanoid robot".

Wow, "China's first", "mass - produced", "high - level". When these words are combined, it's like a "winning hand".

What does the word "mass - produced" mean? It means that it's not a "unique specimen" in the laboratory, costing millions of dollars and bankrupting you if it falls. Instead, it's a product that has sorted out the supply chain, controlled the cost, defined the quality control, and can be "replicated" and launched into the market.

It gives the impression that tomorrow we'll be able to see hundreds of the same robots tightening screws on the assembly line in XPeng's factory.

But here's the strange part. Mr. He Xiaopeng himself, in his speech and subsequent statements, very candidly (or perhaps inadvertently) revealed that this robot is actually still largely "in the research state" at present.

This is... very embarrassing.

On one hand, there's a push to go all out and stick all the "most amazing in history" labels on it; on the other hand, the CEO (the head of R & D) is holding it back, telling everyone, "Don't rush, this thing is still being developed in the laboratory."

Excuse me, how can something that is "still in the research state" be called "the first mass - produced"?

You can't take a "new formula" (a research sample) just developed in the laboratory and then tell the market that it's a "world's first mass - producible miracle lotion" (a mass - produced commodity).

I fully understand that the tech circle is highly competitive now, and everyone wants to be the "first to launch" and get the "first place". But to package a "research project" that is still "in the doctoral stage" into a "mass - produced product about to graduate" just for this "title" is not "promotion", but "over - promotion".

This kind of "self - contradictory" promotion only makes people think that XPeng is too eager to "show off its strength", so much so that the label is too high and will "float away" with a gust of wind?

The most "practical" scenario: being the "most expensive ornament" in the X9?

Okay, let's take a step back. Even if it can really be mass - produced, then the second question arises:

What are you going to use it for?

A product, especially a "high - level" one, should have "application scenarios", right?

Throughout the entire press conference, the only officially demonstrated "application scenario" of the IRON robot was to serve as the "Global Technology Guide for the XPeng X9 Super Extended - Range Vehicle".

This title sounds even more impressive than "mass - produced". But what did we see?

It was just an IRON robot "sitting" in the driver's seat of the XPeng X9 in an unnatural posture.

And then?

Is it driving the car? No. (The laws and regulations don't allow it.)

Is it helping with navigation? It doesn't seem so.

Is it chatting and interacting with passengers, introducing local customs? There was no demonstration of that either.

It was just... "sitting" there.

I'd like to ask, what's the point of this "technology guide"?

If it's just for "companionship" and "intelligent interaction", then the in - car intelligent voice assistant (like Xiao P) is ten thousand times better than putting a physical robot in the driver's seat in terms of cost, efficiency, and safety.

This robot "sitting" there can neither turn the steering wheel nor step on the brake; it takes up a seat and increases the car's energy consumption; in the event of a collision, will it cause secondary harm to real passengers?

This is hardly an "application scenario". It's clearly a complete "staged photo".

I understand that XPeng wants to make a "strong connection" between the robot and its "core business" - cars. But this connection is a bit too "forced". It doesn't show the effect of 1 + 1 > 2. Instead, it makes people think that this robot is more like a "performance art piece", a "most expensive ornament" in the X9 for show.

A robot with no "work" to do: just "flashy moves"

This leads to the most core question: What kind of work can the IRON robot actually do?

At the press conference, the most talked - about action was that "catwalk".

We have to admit that being able to imitate the elegant gait of humans, especially the "hip - swaying" and "cross - stepping" of models, definitely requires a lot of effort in motion control, balance algorithms, flexible joints, etc., and the technical difficulty is very high.

But! What's the point of the robot walking a "catwalk"?

Let's look around the world and see what other humanoid robots are "competing" in:

1. Tesla's "Optimus":

Elon Musk's goal has been very clear from the start. What did he demonstrate? It was moving heavy objects in the factory, sorting parts on the assembly line, tightening screws, and even folding clothes in the office.

These actions are not "elegant" and even a bit "clumsy", but they point to a clear goal:

Enter the factory and replace humans in doing those "boring, repetitive, and dangerous" jobs.

2. Figure's robot (Figure 01):

It has received investments from a bunch of giants like OpenAI, NVIDIA, BMW, and Microsoft. What did it demonstrate? It was taking cups out of boxes and washing dishes while holding plates in a simulated warehouse; it was learning how to operate equipment in BMW's factory. Its goal is also clear: to be a "worker" and enter the "manufacturing" and "logistics" industries.

3. The Ubtech Robotics Walker S2 in China:

It won the bid for the "Equipment Procurement Project of the Zigong Digital Investment Humanoid Robot Data Collection Center". After winning the world's largest humanoid robot contract in September this year, Ubtech won another large - scale order. According to statistics, as of now, the Walker series of humanoid robots have accumulated orders exceeding 800 million yuan this year.

Other robots are desperately "learning to work". They are practicing how to be a qualified "blue - collar worker".

What is XPeng's IRON doing? It's practicing the "catwalk".

I'm not saying that "elegance" is bad, but for a "high - level robot", "being able to work" is its "duty". You haven't even shown proficiency in basic skills like "walking steadily", "lifting heavy objects", and "precise operation", yet you're showing off the catwalk.

This kind of "skill - showing" without a clear "practical scenario" as support is hard to avoid the suspicion of being "flashy moves", no matter how advanced the technology is. It gives the impression that it's more like an "engineering product" for the "press conference" rather than a "real product" for "solving problems".

Conclusion: After a fleeting glimpse, we need to be "down - to - earth"

Well, complaints are complaints, and doubts are doubts.

We have to admit that XPeng's ability to develop the IRON to this level and dare to show it in a "one - take" on such a big stage is itself a very eye - catching "fleeting glimpse" of China on the highly challenging "humanoid robot" track.

It at least proves that on this "hard - core" track monopolized by global tech giants, our Chinese "players" have officially entered the game, and in terms of core technologies (such as servo motors and motion control), we haven't been left far behind.

This courage and investment are definitely worthy of encouragement and affirmation.

However, encouragement doesn't mean "excessive praise".

I really don't want XPeng to be carried away by this wave of "overwhelming popularity"; even less do I want our domestic tech companies to learn to "talk big", be obsessed with holding press conferences, competing for the "first place", and defining success with PPTs and "catwalks". I especially don't want it to be like another internet - famous entrepreneur who claims to be "sincere" and is now being backfired by popularity.

The humanoid robot is a long - term and challenging track, a well - recognized "hard nut to crack". Being able to walk a "catwalk" is just the first step of a long journey. The real test is how to make it go from the "catwalk" to the "production line", from an "ornament" to a "helper".

The real challenge is how to reduce its cost from "sky - high" to "affordable"; how to make it work truly safely, stably, and efficiently in a complex and unstructured environment.

Don't always think about being an "internet celebrity". First, learn to be a "worker".

I hope that when XPeng's IRON makes its next appearance, it will no longer be about "staged photos" and "catwalks", but about its practical work of "tightening screws" in the factory, "moving boxes" in the warehouse, or even "plugging in the charging gun" next to the XPeng X9.

That is the "confidence" and "future" that Chinese robots should have. Be down - to - earth and take one step at a time, instead of being kidnapped by popularity and false fame.