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NEW DELHI: Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall at the AI Summit Expo in Bharat Mandapam on Wednesday after a robotic dog displayed at its booth as an in-house innovation was identified as a commercially available Chinese product, said government sources.The robot, showcased by the university as “Orion,” was recognised by observers as the Unitree Go2 made by Chinese robotics firm Unitree. The incident quickly escalated into a wider controversy at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, a flagship AI event inaugurated by PM Modi.
What the row is about
The robotic dog displayed at the university’s stall was identified as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot sold in India for about Rs 2–3 lakh. Critics said the robot was presented at the summit as a product developed by the university, raising questions about showcasing imported technology at a national AI event meant to highlight domestic innovation.After scrutiny intensified, power at the Galgotias University pavilion at the AI Summit was also reportedly cut off after it was asked to vacate the expo.
What triggered the row
Professor Neha Singh, while presenting the robot earlier, told DD News, “We are the first private university investing more than 350 crore rupees in artificial intelligence and we have a dedicated data science and artificial intelligence block on the campus. So Orion has been developed by the Center of Excellences and as you can see, it can take all shapes and sizes.”“It’s quite naughty also. It’s quite naughty also and it can perform small tasks of surveillance, monitoring,” she added.
Opposition reacts
The controversy drew sharp reactions from opposition. The Congress said on X: “The Modi government has made a laughing stock of India globally, with regard to AI. In the ongoing AI summit, Chinese robots are being displayed as our own. The Chinese media has mocked us. This is truly embarrassing for India. What is even more shameful is the fact that Modi’s minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is indulging in the same falsehood, promoting China’s robots at the Indian summit.““The Modi Government has caused irreparable damage to the image of the country – they have reduced AI to a joke – a field in which we could be world leaders given our data power,” it added.Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called the summit a “disorganised PR spectacle.” In a post on X, he said, “Instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle – Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased.”
University issues clarification
In the first statement, Galgotias University said it had not built or claimed to have built the robotic dog and emphasised its focus on student learning through exposure to advanced global technologies.“Let us be clear – Galgotias has not built this robodog,neither have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat. Innovation knows no borders. Learning should not either. We will continue to source the best technologies from across the world so our students can study them, challenge them, improve upon them—and ultimately create world-class solutions from India for the world.“In a later statement, the university said concerns about “propaganda” against the university were misplaced.“We at Galgotias, faculty and students, are deeply pained by the propaganda campaign against our university. We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn Al programming and develop & deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing Al talent is need of an hour.”Professor Neha Singh, who was representing the university, said the controversy stemmed from unclear communication.“The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly, as it was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do. Also, the intent may not have been properly understood. One important point is regarding the robot dog—we cannot claim that we manufactured it. I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own. Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing cutting-edge technologies in the field of AI, and it will continue to do so.”The summit’s focus on India’s AI ambitions was overshadowed after observers identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, a model sold by Chinese robotics company Unitree.
