Chinese tech giant Xiaomi plans a major $8.7 billion AI investment, launching new models and tools as it embraces the “agent era” of artificial intelligence.
BEIJING: Chinese technology giant Xiaomi will invest at least USD 8.7 billion in artificial intelligence over the next three years. Founder Lei Jun announced the ambitious plan at the launch event for the company’s latest SU7 electric vehicle model.
Lei stressed the imperative for all companies to adapt to a transformative new era. “There’s no doubt that we are entering a new era,” he said, adding that “individuals and companies all need to actively embrace this AI era.”
The smartphone maker unveiled three new AI models designed for what it calls the “agent era”. These agents are programmes that execute real-world tasks like sending emails or booking flights.
Former DeepSeek researcher Luo Fuli, who now leads Xiaomi’s AI team, stated the new models are “truly built for the agent era”. He heads a team with an average age of 25, spearheading the push that began last year.
Xiaomi has also been testing a smartphone-based AI tool named MiClaw this month. This tool allows users to control their phones and home appliances using simple voice commands.
“We have perhaps kept a relatively low profile, but our actual progress may be much faster than people from the outside realise,” Lei said of the company’s AI development efforts. Two of the newly announced models had previously been tested anonymously on a third-party platform.
The company joins other Chinese tech giants racing to develop and release similar AI agent tools. This competition includes speculation about the upcoming release of DeepSeek’s next-generation V4 model.
Unicorn startups Zhipu AI and MiniMax are also key players, seen as litmus tests for China’s AI sector after their Hong Kong listings drew significant interest. Xiaomi itself has rapidly expanded from smartphones into electric vehicles, tablets, and home appliances since its 2011 launch.
