Former ByteDance Robotics Head Kong Tao Joins Xiaomi to Lead Foundation Model R&D

Kong Tao, the former head of ByteDance's robotics team, has officially joined Xiaomi, where he now leads the company's robot foundation model team. According to multiple independent sources, Kong made the move in the summer of 2025 and brought along several former colleagues from ByteDance.

Upon joining, Kong conducted extensive one-on-one discussions with many Xiaomi robotics employees to assess the team's standing within the industry. Insiders describe the foundation model team as highly secretive, operating from separate offices and exempt from appearing in group meetings on Feishu, even when senior executives convene.

The Xiaomi robotics division maintains a strict confidentiality policy internally, reflecting the strategic importance of this research. Kong's arrival signals Xiaomi's intensified push into embodied AI and advanced robotics.