Chinese firm shares video to counter claims its humanoid robot video was CGI

A Chinese robotics company has released behind-the-scenes footage of its new humanoid robot after online users questioned whether a dramatic promotional video was computer-generated.

EngineAI unveiled its T800 robot only a day earlier, but the launch video — showing the machine breaking through doors and performing rapid roundhouse kicks in a dimly lit studio — quickly fuelled speculation that digital effects had been used to enhance its movements.

According the a news published on Extreme Engineering website, the company had stated that the clip contained “no CGI, no AI, no video speed-up”, yet many viewers pointed to cinematic lighting, stylised editing and unusually fluid motion as signs of digital manipulation. The backlash reflects a broader issue for the fast-advancing humanoid robotics sector, where increasingly lifelike movement often blurs the line between engineering and computer graphics.

Fresh evidence to counter CGI claims

In response, EngineAI published new footage on X titled “T800 BTS Footage: Setting the Record Straight on CGI Rumors.” The video strips away colour grading and dramatic cuts, showing the robot in a plain studio performing the same actions, with visible mechanical joints and actuator movements.

The company says the robot’s performance relies on engineering rather than digital effects, pointing to its 450 newton-metres of joint torque and 29 degrees of freedom.

EngineAI is the latest Chinese firm to face accusations of staging its demonstrations. Earlier this month, Xpeng was forced to release additional engineering clips after its Iron robot drew claims that a human might have been wearing a robotic suit during a presentation.

UBTECH Robotics encountered similar doubts when a video showed hundreds of Walker S2 robots moving in synchronised formation. Figure CEO Brett Adcock publicly questioned the authenticity, citing inconsistent reflections. UBTECH later released a drone-shot with original audio and a single-take unedited sequence, insisting the footage was “100 percent real.”

UBTECH executive Tan Min said critics often underestimate China’s manufacturing capabilities and urged sceptics to visit factories to understand the speed of development.

The disputes underscore how quickly humanoid motion is improving. Movements once seen as impossible for real machines are now convincing enough to trigger widespread doubt.

Ambitions beyond viral videos

EngineAI says its goals extend beyond eye-catching demonstrations. The company plans “scenario-based verification and large-scale deployment” of the T800 in 2026, aiming for applications in industrial production, commercial services and even household companionship.

The firm is also pursuing an entertainment track, including a Robot Boxer event scheduled for 24 December. Some T800 units are already deployed as “Cyber Staff” in retail outlets in Shenzhen.

While the new footage may ease concerns over CGI, EngineAI now faces a broader challenge: proving that the T800 can deliver consistent real-world performance as it moves towards mass deployment.