Lei Jun says he'll report Xiaomi's (小米) AI progress soon; warns SU7 exterior changes must be handled "very carefully"

What Lei Jun said

Xiaomi (小米) founder, chairman and CEO Lei Jun (雷军) said he will brief the public "after some time" on the company's latest advances in artificial intelligence, and stressed that any modifications to the new-generation SU7's exterior must be made with extreme caution. In a video released March 16, Lei reflected that if he had not decided to build cars five years ago he would "very likely" have devoted himself fully to AI — a signal of how central AI has become to China’s tech leadership race.

It has been reported that the new SU7 will be officially listed on March 19 at 19:00. Lei highlighted the company's confidence in the model transition — noting that first-generation SU7 deliveries reached about 380,000 units in two years — and said Xiaomi moved early to discontinue the original SU7 and ramp up production for the successor as a show of preparedness.

Why this matters

Xiaomi's move from smartphones into electric vehicles and now AI mirrors a broader trend among China's tech champions to diversify into adjacent high‑tech sectors. Will hardware makers become AI platform companies? The company’s public commitment to report AI progress underscores how much weight Chinese firms place on AI development even as global supply chains and semiconductor policies evolve.

Reporters and industry watchers should note the geopolitical backdrop: China's big tech players are accelerating investments in AI amid U.S. export controls on advanced chips and intensifying strategic competition. Lei's caution over changing the SU7's appearance also reflects a conservative design philosophy seen in many enduring global models — make changes slowly, or risk alienating buyers. Will Xiaomi balance bold tech bets with conservative product stewardship? That question will shape how the company is judged in both domestic and international markets.