China, known as **the world’s factory**, has taken a step further towards **total automation** with the creation of the **Xiaomi Smart Factory**, located in **Changping, Beijing**. This industrial complex operates under the concept of **dark factory**, where **human presence has disappeared**, as all processes are **guided by artificial intelligence**.
## What is a dark factory?
The term **dark factory** refers to a facility where **there is no need for lighting**, because **there are no human workers operating machinery**. In this case, Xiaomi’s factory belongs to the **industry 4.0**, combining:
– **Advanced automation**.
– **High-precision robotics**.
– **AI-based smart manufacturing**.
## Production capacity: one phone per second
According to productivity data, the factory has the capacity to **manufacture a phone per second**, optimizing each assembly phase through **automated processes**.
Compared to other high-performance factories, like Honor’s in Shenzhen, which produces **a phone every 30 seconds**, Xiaomi’s advancement marks a new era in technological manufacturing.
## State-of-the-art infrastructure
The **Xiaomi Smart Factory** features:
– **81,000 square meters** of surface area.
– **Investment of 330 million dollars**.
– **Annual production of 10 million devices**, including **foldable models**.
Each assembled piece **communicates directly with the next process**, eliminating **human errors** and ensuring **millimeter precision**.
## The impact of artificial intelligence on human work
These types of factories **reignite the debate** about the future of work in the face of the advancement of **artificial intelligence**. While automation **reduces human intervention**, **specialized operators** are still required for **supervision and maintenance**.
Figures like **Bill Gates** have argued that **AI will not destroy jobs**, but rather **transform them**, generating **new job opportunities** in an increasingly digitalized environment.
## Is this the future of the industry?
The Xiaomi Smart Factory represents **the transition between traditional manufacturing and the future of production**.
While automation is growing **exponentially**, the challenge remains in how to balance technology, **employment, and sustainability**.
*Cover photo: Xiaomi*
