Hidden in plain sight: the AI within Xiaomi
asiatimes.com Jun 20, 2026

Hidden in plain sight: the AI within Xiaomi

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

A previously unknown AI model from Xiaomi recently appeared on a developer platform, reaching the top of the usage charts and serving over one trillion tokens before its origin was discovered. This counterexample challenges the notion that building a cutting-edge AI model requires a long head start and significant resources. Xiaomi's model is notable, given the company's diverse product portfolio and significant revenue. The model's success is particularly striking, as Xiaomi only began building its large-model team in early 2023 and shipped its first language models that same year. The company's progress in AI development has been rapid, with its model now considered more exciting than some pure-play AI companies.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · Xiaomi's achievement undermines the assumption that a decade-long head start is necessary for building a competitive AI model.
  • · Its success also raises questions about the valuation of companies that make AI models compared to those with more diverse product offerings.