AI robot ‘Iron’ launches in China with plans for global release
Chinese company XPeng has unveiled its AI robot ‘Iron’, saying it’s only a matter of time before the tech is available to Australian companies. But what will this mean for Aussie workers?
READING LEVEL: ORANGE
For millions of young Aussies, a first job often meant standing behind a counter, saying hi to customers, answering questions and learning how to deal with people.
Now one carmaker wants a robot doing those jobs instead.
Chinese electric vehicle giant XPeng has unveiled Iron, an eerily human-looking robot it plans to roll out across showrooms, offices and factories before eventually making it available to other businesses across the world.
Iron has been designed to look and move like a person so that it can work and engage with humans, in spaces built for humans.
Standing 173cm tall, the robot has been powered by the same artificial intelligence* (AI) behind XPeng’s self-driving* technology, allowing it to hold conversations and interact with people.
XPeng Vice Chairman and President Brian Gu said Iron had been designed to act as a sales assistant.
“It can greet customers, it can introduce the product, answer questions, take a walk with the customer around the vehicle, hand over a bottle of water, open the door and explain the inside,” Mr Gu said. “It can do all these jobs, for hours if needed.”
XPeng said it planned to launch around 1000 robots across its stores, offices and factories before expanding into commercial, retail and office settings from 2027.
“Iron is not a distant vision. It will become a reality very soon, and hopefully very soon in Australia as well,” he said.
The humanoid* robot has been only one part of XPeng’s broader AI push.
The same AI foundation model that powers Iron has also been used in the company’s autonomous* driving technology and Robotaxi* program, which Gu has described as “robots on wheels”.
XPeng said it hoped to eventually bring that technology to Australia, once driverless vehicles became something that Aussies wanted to buy.
The prospect of autonomous vehicles has drawn a strong response from the Transport Workers’ Union, which argues Australians should have a say in how emerging technologies are introduced and regulated.
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said, “It is the job of our policymakers to determine if or when this type of technology reaches our streets, and most importantly – under what regulatory conditions.”
Those same questions have now been asked of humanoid robots.
If they can greet customers, answer questions and never clock off, what will happen to the people who would have done those jobs?
Mr Gu said Iron was designed to handle “routine, repeatable, mundane jobs,” freeing up staff to focus on more important work.
“They can have more people focus on other aspects of the sales process that add more value – that needs more human interactions or intuitive* human judgement. Those things are not going to be replaced by robots yet,” Mr Gu said.
When reporters from news.com.au pointed out the significance of that final word “yet” – Mr Gu laughed.
He argued people would evolve alongside AI, becoming “more thoughtful” and better at using the technology, changing the mix of jobs rather than cutting out people altogether.
But unions have remained wary.
“We cannot keep seeing Silicon Valley* start-ups imposing technology in our communities without Australians getting a say,” said Mr Kaine. “It is time to see decisions made in the interests of workers and the Australian community.”
Despite the debates about driverless vehicles and robots existing alongside humans, one thing has become very clear. Like it or not, AI won’t be confined to a screen … It’s about to clock on for work.
POLL
GLOSSARY
- artificial intelligence: AI, technology that enables computer systems to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as understanding language, analysing data, creating content and visual perception
- self-driving: cars that drive themselves using sensors, cameras and software, including AI
- humanoid: resembling humans
- autonomous: the technology underpinning self-driving vehicles
- Robotaxi: a self-driving vehicle that you can hail through an online booking platform for on-demand transport, like an Uber, that doesn’t have a human driver
- intuitive: requiring emotions, feelings, spiritual connection or gut feelings – which computers don’t possess
- Silicon Valley: a region in Northern California renown for its tech innovation
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QUICK QUIZ
- Why was Iron designed to look like a human in shape and size?
- What sort of tasks has Iron been programmed to do?
- What technology drives Iron’s movements?
- What concerns do Unions have about driverless cars and humanoid robots being released in Australia?
- Which type of workers could see their jobs most become at risk if companies start to use robots instead of employing humans?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Follow the five Ws
Write down the key points from this Kids News article in short, succinct sentences:
Who:
What:
When:
Where:
Why:
How:
Possible headline for the article:
Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative Thinking
2. Extension
Write down the arguments for and against and points of view presented in this article.
FOR
AGAINST
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VCOP ACTIVITY
Opener up-level it
Make a list of all the openers in the article. Pick three that repeat and see if you can replace them with another word, or shuffle the order of the sentence to bring a new opener to the front.
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