Galgotias University Vacates AI Impact Summit Stall Amid Chinese Robot Dog Controversy
A major controversy unfolded at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 after Galgotias University faced intense online backlash for showcasing a robotic dog that critics alleged was a Chinese-made product rather than an in-house innovation.
The Uttar Pradesh-based university was seen vacating its stall at the expo on Wednesday following widespread criticism over the display of the robot dog, labelled “Orion.”
What Sparked the Controversy?
The controversy began earlier this week when Galgotias University presented a robotic dog at the AI Summit expo being held at Bharat Mandapam.
However, tech observers and social media users quickly pointed out that the robot appeared to be the Unitree Go2, a quadruped robot manufactured by Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics.
The product in question, Unitree Go2, is widely available internationally and is not an Indian-developed robotic platform. This triggered allegations that the university had misrepresented imported technology as its own creation.
Government’s Response at AI Summit
Addressing the controversy, IT Secretary S Krishnan made it clear that the government does not want disputes overshadowing the summit.
“We want genuine exhibitors at the expo. We don’t want controversy around exhibits here. Plagiarism and misinformation cannot be encouraged. This should not overshadow the wonderful exhibits others have put out,” he said.
Adding to this, Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary at MeitY and CEO of the India AI Mission, stated:
“The main problem is they claimed to be something they are not. They misled. The whole world is here.”
Sources quoted by PTI suggested that the university was asked to vacate the expo area immediately on Wednesday.
Galgotias University Denies Receiving Notice
Despite reports claiming that the university was directed to vacate the stall, Galgotias University initially denied receiving any official communication.
Dr Nitin Kumar Gaur, Registrar of Galgotias University, told media outlets:
“We have already issued a statement that we had purchased the robot, and our students were working on it. We never claimed that we made it. As for the stall at the AI Summit, we have not received any official communication yet. Once we get it, we will act accordingly.”
Professor Aishwarya Shrivastava also stated that the university had no official confirmation about vacating the stall at the time.
Official Statement from Galgotias University
In a statement issued earlier, the university clarified that it never claimed to have built the robot dog.
According to the university, the robotic dog was acquired to help students experiment and learn about advanced AI and robotics technologies.
“Let us be clear — Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat.”
The institution described the robot as a learning tool rather than a product developed internally.
Professor Takes Responsibility for Miscommunication
Amid the escalating controversy, Professor Neha Singh — whose viral video triggered further debate — took accountability for the confusion.
“The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly. One important point is that we cannot claim to have manufactured the robot dog.”
She reiterated that the goal was to inspire students to develop indigenous innovations in the future.
Regarding reports of being asked to vacate the stall, she added:
“I do not have any information about that. What I know is that today we are all present here.”
Bigger Question: Transparency in AI Exhibitions
The incident has sparked a broader discussion about transparency, originality, and ethical representation at technology expos — especially at global platforms like the India AI Impact Summit, where innovation credibility is closely scrutinized.
While Galgotias University maintains that the robot was meant purely for academic experimentation, the episode highlights the importance of clear communication and responsible representation in India’s rapidly growing AI ecosystem.
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