Robot Dogs, Drone Swarms, and DeepSeek: China’s New Weapons Race

China is rapidly advancing its military use of artificial intelligence, and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is now integrating DeepSeek, the country’s leading AI model, into new forms of autonomous warfare.

A Reuters investigation found that the PLA and state-owned defense firms such as Norinco are testing AI-powered vehicles, robot dogs, and drone swarms capable of tracking and engaging targets with limited human control.

The PLA’s reliance on DeepSeek AI systems reflects Beijing’s broader goal of achieving what officials call “algorithmic sovereignty” — reducing dependence on Western technology and developing its own Huawei AI chips after U.S. export bans on Nvidia hardware, according to Reuters.

Research from Chinese defense universities shows that DeepSeek can analyze satellite data, recognize targets, and simulate thousands of battlefield scenarios in seconds, potentially reshaping how the PLA plans and fights wars.

While China’s government insists that humans remain in control, experts warn that AI warfare is evolving faster than regulation.