A video circulating on social media claims to show a Chinese humanoid “robot soldier” conducting live-fire shooting practice, suggesting that China has deployed or is testing a “Terminator-type” robotic army. The clip has been widely shared on multiple social media platforms, often accompanied by captions implying that China is rapidly replacing human troops with armed humanoid robots. However, our investigation found that the viral clip is AI-generated concept content and does not show real-world military deployment.
Social Media Posts
The viral footage shows a humanoid robot holding a rifle and firing in what appears to be a military training environment, accompanied by the claim that the video shows actual footage of China’s robotic military.
The clip has been widely shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Fact-Check
Visual Analysis
A reverse image search of screenshots from the video revealed visible AI watermarks. An article on CNYES also includes the video screenshot that was shared by a user following coverage of Unitree robots performing martial arts during China’s Spring Festival Gala.
The text overlay in the footage includes references such as, “Seedance 2.0 full-ability video model generation” The caption in Chinese accompanying the original upload translates to:
“The images people imagined after watching the gala. This video was generated using the Seedance 2.0 all-in-one video model; please ignore the bullet’s trajectory… Out of quota, should we generate another one?”
The post also includes hashtags related to the Spring Festival Gala and “Yushu (Unitree) Robots.” The presence of the “Seedance 2.0” watermark, combined with the original uploader’s caption explicitly stating the video was generated using an AI model, confirms that the footage is synthetic rather than real military documentation.
Visual Anomalies
The viral video contains several visual inconsistencies, including the robot’s facial lighting, which changes from frame to frame, and the Chinese flag on the robot’s arm, which appears and disappears irregularly.
Additionally, when we examined keyframes from the video using Was It AI, an AI Image Detector, the analysis indicated a high likelihood that it was generated using AI.
What China Is Actually Developing
China is investing heavily in robotics and artificial intelligence. Companies such as Unitree Robotics and UBTECH have demonstrated advanced humanoid and quadruped robots in industrial, research, and entertainment settings.
However, there is no credible evidence that China has deployed a mass humanoid robot army. No official statements from the Chinese government, the People’s Liberation Army, or major defense reporting confirm the existence of humanoid combat infantry units.
Verified reporting shows that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has tested quadruped “robot dogs” and unmanned ground vehicles primarily for reconnaissance, bomb disposal, and support roles.
The Guardian reported in May 2024 that the Chinese military showcased a quadruped robot equipped with a rifle during exercises, describing it as a test platform rather than evidence of widespread deployment. The Economic Times similarly noted that current military robotics programs focus on limited testing and demonstrations rather than fully autonomous humanoid infantry forces.
Real Unitree Models and Capabilities
Unitree’s latest humanoid models, such as the H1 and H2, are designed for research, industrial, and service applications. According to Live Science, the H2 humanoid demonstrates advanced movement capabilities, including dynamic balancing and martial arts-style motions. These demonstrations are focused on agility and manipulation, not autonomous combat deployment. There is no verified evidence from reputable defense reporting that China operates a “million robot soldier army” or humanoid rifle-carrying infantry units as depicted in the viral AI video.
Unitree Robot Performance at the Spring Festival Gala (2026)
On February 16, 2026, China’s CCTV Spring Festival Gala featured humanoid robots from Unitree Robotics and other Chinese firms performing complex routines, including martial arts-inspired choreography, acrobatics, parkour sequences, and synchronized movements with human performers.
Reuters reported that the robot performances were framed as a showcase of China’s robotics industry and AI ambitions, emphasizing entertainment and technological advancement rather than military capability. (Source: Reuters, DotDotNews)
Conclusion
The viral video claiming to show a Chinese humanoid “robot soldier” conducting live-fire shooting practice is AI-generated content, not authentic military footage. The original creator explicitly described it as being generated using the Seedance 2.0 video model and included context indicating it was inspired by Unitree robots’ performance at China’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala. While China is advancing in robotics and AI development, there is no credible evidence of deployed humanoid robot infantry forces as depicted in the viral clip.
Title:Viral Video of Chinese “Robot Soldier” is AI-Generated, Not Real Military Footage
Fact Check By: Cielito WangResult: False
