In a strange case of life imitating “art,” it’s just been announced that Baidu’s AI robot Xiaodu will be the official spokes”person” for the Chinese release of upcoming robots vs kaiju popcorn flick Pacific Rim Uprising.

From Sohu (link in Chinese):

According to reports, Xiaodu is the first intelligent AI robot invited by Hollywood as the spokesman for a film in China. In the film poster announcing the role, Xiaodu sits endearingly at the feet of the four mecha [the film’s robot protagonists]… waving its arm to cheer on these idols.

Xiaodu has really been making the press rounds lately. Compare this poster with the same bot giving beauty tips in a Lancôme tie-in a few months back: