A Chinese humanoid robot flopped face-first onto the ground during a public showcase. Its CEO says it's all part of 'learning to walk.'

"In videos circulating on social media, IRON can be seen walking human-like to the center of the stage before turning to face the crowd. As it lifted its arm, the robot appeared to lose balance. Staff rushed forward to intervene, but the robot fell face-first onto the ground. The fall drew audible gasps from the audience. The event's host attempted to reassure the crowd, saying that robots, like humans, must "overcome setbacks on the way to a better future.""

"In a post on Weibo, one of China's largest social media platforms, XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng said on Sunday the incident reminded him of "children learning to walk." "After falling, they steady themselves, and the next step is to start running and keep running," he wrote. XPengis a Chinese electric vehicle maker that has set its sights beyond cars, branching into flying vehicles and robotics as competition in the transport industry heats up."

After drawing cheers at its debut, XPeng's humanoid robot IRON, dressed in a black suit, walked onto a stage and fell face-first. Videos show IRON walking to center stage, turning to face the crowd, lifting an arm, then appearing to lose balance as staff rushed to intervene. The fall drew audible gasps and the host said robots, like humans, must "overcome setbacks on the way to a better future." XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng compared the mishap to "children learning to walk," adding that after falling they steady themselves and then run. XPeng is expanding beyond cars into flying vehicles and robotics amid growing industry competition.

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