Tech Desk 
Aug 13, 2025
In the midst of the world depluing artificial intelligence (AI) and similar technologies to attain automation, China has made an AI-assisted antelope roam Tibet's Hoh Xil plateau as part of the expansion of its wildlife monitoring.
Citing the country's state media, Reuters reported that China's "robot antelope" has doe-like eyes and thick brown fur.
Bearing close resemblance to the endangered Tibetan antelope, the bot has also been integrated with 5G, besides AI, and is capable of scanning scanning the area with its sensors.
Xinhua, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Hangzhou-based DEEP Robotics are said to be behind this marvel of AI-enabled device, carrying out real-time monitoring to track the migration, feeding, and mating habits of the species.
The state media also reported that the country has invested tens of billions in subsidies for its robotics industry and recently hosted the 2025 World Robot Conference. It expanded 5G services to Tibet in 2019, and by 2022, the region had one million user.
In addition to monitoring wildlife, this infrastructure supports AI applications including drones, telemedicine, and "smart" yak herding.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies in its report published in July outlined instances of China using local telecom networks to monitor dissidents in Nepal and engage in cyber theft.
