Lead Story
Sep 8, 2026
Xiaomi L3 autonomous driving lead exits to launch physical AI startup
Wang Naiyan, Xiaomi Auto's L3 autonomous driving technology lead, has left to launch an embodied AI venture focused on robot brains, marking the latest in a wave of Chinese auto tech talent moving into robotics. The departure adds pressure on automakers to retain core AI talent as expertise migrates from autonomous driving to broader physical AI applications.
Sarah Mitchell