The footage, widely shared online and reported by outlets including The Brief India, shows robots moving in sync with Shaolin monks, copying martial arts postures, drills and choreographed kung fu routines inside the temple complex. The visuals are unusual and, for many, slightly unsettling — machines performing movements that have been passed down through centuries of human discipline and spiritual practice.
Robots built by Shanghai-based AgiBot
The humanoid robots featured in the viral videos were developed by AgiBot, a Chinese robotics company headquartered in Shanghai. The firm is known for producing AI-powered humanoid robots designed to operate in real-world environments, not just controlled lab settings.
According to reports, these robots are capable of perceiving their surroundings and carrying out complex physical tasks. While they are often showcased for industrial or practical work, the Shaolin Temple appearance highlights how embodied artificial intelligence is now entering cultural and creative spaces as well.
The robots have a human-like structure, including a head, arms and legs, allowing them to mimic movements more naturally. This design enables them to perform activities such as martial arts training, dancing and other coordinated physical routines that once seemed far beyond the reach of machines.
Striking contrast between tradition and technology
What makes the video stand out is the sharp contrast it presents. On one side are Shaolin monks, whose lives revolve around discipline, physical control and long-standing traditions. On the other are humanoid robots driven by algorithms, sensors and programmed learning.
The result feels surreal. Many viewers described the scene as both impressive and strange, with ancient culture and cutting-edge technology colliding in a way that feels straight out of a science fiction film, except this time it is very real.
Social media reacts: praise, jokes and warnings
Online reactions have been intense and divided. Some users praised China’s rapid technological progress and its investment in artificial intelligence. One user wrote, “Damn this country is heading the top…I am a big fan…China is soon to be a dream country for the entire world.” Another commented, “China is living in future.” Others took a lighter tone. A user joked, “Why practice when you can just put one command and rest. I’m talking about Robots here.”
However, not everyone was impressed. A sceptical voice warned, “The bad ideas just keep piling on.” Another blunt reaction read, “We are cooked.” One particularly dramatic comment echoed a familiar fear often seen in sci-fi discussions: “Please god! You humans!! How many movies have they showed you that this is not a good idea!!”
Another comment shared on Instagram added a political edge, stating, “And, here in India we are training people to hate each other based on events that has happened thousands of years ago!”
