晚点独家丨湛逸飞将出任理想人形机器人业务负责人

Core Viewpoint - Li Auto has established a new humanoid robot department, appointing Zhan Yifei, a senior algorithm expert from the autonomous driving team, as the head, indicating a strategic shift towards robotics following advancements in autonomous driving technology [4][6]. Group 1: Organizational Changes - Zhan Yifei, who previously worked on key technologies such as BEV algorithms and world model architecture, will now oversee the research and productization of the humanoid robot business [4][6][7]. - The new humanoid robot department was created two weeks prior to Zhan's appointment, with the former head, Lang Xianpeng, transitioning out of the role [4][6]. Group 2: Technological Background - Zhan Yifei's experience includes significant contributions to the BEV algorithm, which is crucial for autonomous driving perception systems, and the world model, which enhances AI's understanding of physical world dynamics [7][8]. - The technology overlap between autonomous driving and humanoid robots is substantial, allowing Li Auto to leverage its existing algorithms, data assets, and engineering experience in the new robotics field [8]. Group 3: Strategic Direction - Li Auto's CEO, Li Xiang, has emphasized that embodied intelligence is a key direction for AI development, positioning humanoid robots as the next major product category after smart vehicles [7]. - The company has restructured its autonomous driving department, merging parts with the intelligent space department and creating the new humanoid robot department to better align with future technological advancements [8].