Galgotias University removed from AI Summit after claiming Chinese robot dog as own creation

Indian University Slammed for Claiming China-Made Robot as Own

Galgotias University called the criticism a "propaganda campaign" and said the university is focused on teaching AI programming, stating "Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed". An Indian university accused of passing off a robot made by China's Unitree as its own at the India AI Impact Summit was asked to vacate its exhibition stall, in a controversy that cast a shadow over an event meant to showcase the country's technological ambitions. As the claim drew backlash, university representatives were asked to leave the expo on Wednesday, a government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. A video circulating on X shows a faculty member representing Galgotias University displaying a quadruped robot dog named "Orion" and claiming the product was formed from the school's Centre of Excellence. The faculty member later backtracked, saying her comments had been misinterpreted. The summit held in New Delhi was aimed at positioning India as an AI powerhouse while promoting "Made in India" products. Though mismanagement on the first day left the expo with a black eye, it has since featured big investmentBloomberg Terminal announcements from the likes of Anthropic PBC, Adani Group and Qualcomm Inc. The demonstration, which showed off the robodog's mobility and surveillance ability, initially drew crowds but sparked outrage online after tech enthusiasts identified it as Unitree robot, priced between $2,200 to $3,300. The AI summit, shepherded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an opportunity to woo foreign investment and show off Indian talent, is taking hits from such incidents and episodes of disorganization, such as participants being denied entry or left without access to food or water on the first day. Summit organizers asked the university to vacate the expo, according to local media reports. Galgotias University called the criticism a "propaganda campaign" in a post on X and said the university is focused on teaching AI programming. "Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed," the statement read. Accusations of imitation persist over AI innovation, including OpenAI Inc.'s allegations that some Chinese model builders were distilling or compressing the ChatGPT maker's larger model to create more efficient ones. The expo's length has been extended into the weekend to accommodate a surge in visitors.

India tells university to leave AI summit after presenting Chinese robot as its own, sources say

NEW DELHI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - An Indian university has been asked to vacate its stall at the country's flagship AI summit after a staff member was caught presenting a commercially available robotic dog made in China as its own creation, two government sources said. "You need to meet Orion. This has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University," Neha Singh, a professor of communications, told state-run broadcaster DD News this week in remarks that have since gone viral. But social media users quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics for about $2,800 and widely used in research and education globally. The episode has drawn sharp criticism and has cast an uncomfortable spotlight on India's artificial intelligence ambitions. The embarrassment was amplified by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who shared the video clip on his official social media account before the backlash. The post was later deleted. Both Galgotias and Singh have subsequently said the robot was not a university creation and the university had never claimed otherwise. The stall remained open to visitors as of Wednesday morning with university officials fielding questions from media about accusations of plagiarism and misrepresentation. Galgotias has yet to receive any communication about being kicked out from the event, a representative at the booth said. The India AI Impact summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, which runs until Saturday, has been billed as the first major AI gathering hosted in the Global South. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Google's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei will address the gathering on Thursday. The event has also faced broader organisational difficulties since opening, with delegates reporting overcrowding and logistical issues. That said, there has been more than $100 billion of investment in India AI projects pledged during the summit, including investments from the Adani Group conglomerate, tech giant Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab and data centre firm Yotta. India's biggest opposition party, Congress, was amongst those expressing outrage. "The Modi government has made a laughing stock of India globally with regard to AI," it said on social media, citing the robot incident. Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in New Delhi; Editing by Edwina Gibbs Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * China Munsif Vengattil Thomson Reuters Based in Bengaluru, Munsif Vengattil leads Reuters' technology news coverage in India. He tracks themes at the intersection of tech, business, and labor. A reporter for nine years, Munsif has written extensively on India's electronics manufacturing aspirations and its tech policy space, AI and election interference, satellite internet, streaming wars, and data breaches. His stories also focus on investigating corporate strategies and revealing India-specific initiatives and challenges of the biggest of tech firms - from Apple, Facebook, and Google, to Foxconn, Samsung, and Nvidia.

India boots a private university from an AI summit over a robot dog controversy

NEW DELHI (AP) -- A private Indian university was booted from a top artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi on Wednesday after one of its staffers displayed a commercially available robotic dog made in China, claiming it was the university's own innovation. According to two government officials, Galgotias University was ordered to take down its stand at the summit a day after the university's professor of communications, Neha Singh, told state-run broadcaster DD News that robotic dog Orion was developed by the Centre of Excellence at the university. Internet users, however, quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics with a starting price tag of $1,600 and used widely in research and education. On Wednesday, Singh told reporters she never explicitly claimed the dog was university's own creation, but only an exhibit. The incident was an embarrassment for host country India, the two government officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. However, a statement from Galgotias said the university was "deeply pained" and described the incident as a "propaganda campaign" that could spread negativity and harm the morale of students working to innovate, learn and build their skills using global technologies. It wasn't immediately clear if the university had removed its booth from the summit. Still, the episode underscores the high stakes for India as it tries to cast itself as a global hub for AI and advanced manufacturing, drawing billions of dollars in investments while stressing credibility and local innovation. The summit kicked off on Monday with some organizational hiccups as attendees and exhibitors reported long queues and delays at the venue. Several exhibitors took to social media to complain that their personal belonging and products on display were stolen. Organizers later said the items were recovered and returned. The India AI Impact Summit, billed as a flagship event in the Global South, is attended by at least 20 heads of state and governments, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a session Thursday. Also expected to attend are Google's Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano Amon, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft's President Brad Smith and AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun.

Robot dog: Galgotias University faces backlash for claiming Chinese product as own at India AI summit

An Indian university has courted controversy at the AI summit in Delhi after an official claimed that a Chinese-made robotic dog was its own invention. The incident came to light after a professor from Galgotias University told state-run broadcaster DD News that the robot named "Orion" was "developed" at their Centre of Excellence. A video of her remarks went viral. Online users later identified the machine as the Go2 model made by Chinese firm Unitree Robotics, which is commercially available starting at about 200,000 rupees ($2,200; £1,600). In a statement on Wednesday, the university denied claiming it had built the robot and described the backlash as a "propaganda campaign". "We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop and deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of an hour (sic)," the university said. Neha Singh, the professor seen in the video, later told reporters her remarks had been misunderstood. "It might be that I could not convey well what I wanted to say, or you could not understand well what I wanted to say," she said. Social media users, however, accused the university of dishonesty. Reports said that following the backlash, the university was asked to vacate its stall at the summit. Faculty members said they had received no official communication to do so. But hours later, news agency Press Trust of India reported that electricity supply to the stall was cut off following the controversy. A BBC reporter at the summit said the lights were turned off at the booth and no staff from the university were around. The incident is being seen as an embarrassment for the organisers of the summit as the video had also been shared on IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's official X account. The post has since been deleted. India's IT Secretary S Krishnan said the controversy should not "overshadow" the work put in by other participants at the summit. "What happened should not affect the way people present or exhibit their work at such events. The idea is not to use an opportunity like this to become something else or create unnecessary noise. "It is essential that a proper code of conduct is followed. There are other countries and other participants involved as well," he told reporters. The India AI Impact Summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam on Monday, is being pitched by the government as a flagship gathering to position India as a global AI hub. Delegates from more than 100 countries, including several heads of governments, are attending, alongside industry leaders such as Sundar Pichai of Google. The five-day summit features policy discussions, startup showcases and closed-door meetings on AI governance, infrastructure and innovation. However, its opening day was overshadowed by complaints of overcrowding, long queues and confusion at the venue, prompting organisers to extend exhibition hours and tighten entry management. They say arrangements have since improved. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.

India's AI embarrassment when robot dog made in China put on display by local university | Fortune

A private Indian university was booted from a top artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi on Wednesday after one of its staffers displayed a commercially available robotic dog made in China, claiming it was the university's own innovation. According to two government officials, Galgotias University was ordered to take down its stand at the summit a day after the university's professor of communications, Neha Singh, told state-run broadcaster DD News that robotic dog Orion was developed by the Centre of Excellence at the university. Internet users, however, quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics with a starting price tag of $1,600 and used widely in research and education. On Wednesday, Singh told reporters she never explicitly claimed the dog was university's own creation, but only an exhibit. The incident was an embarrassment for host country India, the two government officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. A statement from Galgotias on Tuesday said the university was "deeply pained" and described the incident as a "propaganda campaign" that could spread negativity and harm the morale of students working to innovate, learn and build their skills using global technologies. Then, in a new statement on Wednesday, the university apologized for the confusion and said Singh, its representative at the AI summit pavilion, was not authorized to talk to the media and was "ill-informed." "She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm at being on camera, gave factually incorrect information," it said. It wasn't immediately clear if the university had removed its booth from the summit. Still, the episode underscores the high stakes for India as it tries to cast itself as a global hub for AI and advanced manufacturing, drawing billions of dollars in investments while stressing credibility and local innovation. The summit kicked off on Monday with some organizational hiccups as attendees and exhibitors reported long queues and delays at the venue. Several exhibitors took to social media to complain that their personal belonging and products on display were stolen. Organizers later said the items were recovered and returned. The India AI Impact Summit, billed as a flagship event in the Global South, is attended by at least 20 heads of state and governments, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a session Thursday. Also expected to attend are Google's Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano Amon, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft's President Brad Smith and AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun.

A robotic dog made in China gets an Indian university kicked out of an AI summit

NEW DELHI -- A private Indian university was booted from a top artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi on Wednesday after one of its staffers displayed a commercially available robotic dog made in China, claiming it was the university's own innovation. According to two government officials, Galgotias University was ordered to take down its stand at the summit a day after the university's professor of communications, Neha Singh, told state-run broadcaster DD News that robotic dog Orion was developed by the Centre of Excellence at the university. Internet users, however, quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics with a starting price tag of $1,600 and used widely in research and education. On Wednesday, Singh told reporters she never explicitly claimed the dog was the university's own creation, but only an exhibit. The incident was an embarrassment for host country India, the two government officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. A statement from Galgotias on Tuesday said the university was "deeply pained" and described the incident as a "propaganda campaign" that could spread negativity and harm the morale of students working to innovate, learn and build their skills using global technologies. Then, in a new statement on Wednesday, the university apologized for the confusion and said Singh, its representative at the AI summit pavilion, was not authorized to talk to the media and was "ill-informed." "She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm at being on camera, gave factually incorrect information," it said. It was not immediately clear whether the university had removed its booth from the summit. Still, the episode underscores the high stakes for India as it tries to cast itself as a global hub for AI and advanced manufacturing, drawing billions of dollars in investments while stressing credibility and local innovation. The summit kicked off Monday with some organizational hiccups as attendees and exhibitors reported long lines and delays at the venue. Several exhibitors took to social media to complain that their personal belongings and products on display were stolen. Organizers later said the items were recovered and returned. The India AI Impact Summit, billed as a flagship event in the Global South, is being attended by at least 20 heads of state and governments, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a session Thursday. Also expected to attend are Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft President Brad Smith and AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun.

University ousted from India AI summit over China-made robot dog

Galgotias University said they were 'deeply pained' by the incident and that their representatives were 'ill-informed' about where the dog was made. An Indian university was reportedly asked to leave an artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi after one of its professors displayed a robotic dog made in China but claimed it was their own invention. Galgotias University was ordered to take down its stand at the India AI Impact Summit after Nehan Singh, a communications professor at the university, told a state-run broadcaster that the robotic dog at their display was from the university. The robot was identified by Internet users as the Unitree Go2, which is sold by China's Unitree Robotics for $1,600 (€1,336). Singh said in a video from news agency The Press Trust of India that "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 ... so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do," a translation of Singh's remarks read. "We cannot claim that we manufactured it," adding that she introduced students to the robot dog to "inspire them to create something better on their own." Two government officials told the Associated Press that the incident was an embarrassment for India. The university said in a statement to Press Trust India that one of their "representatives manning the pavilion was ill-informed," and was not aware of the technical origin of the product thatw as on display. "There was no institutional intent to misrepresent the innovation," the spokesperson said to the news agency. An earlier statement from the university said it was "deeply pained" by the incident and described it as a "propaganda campaign" that could spread negativity and harm the morale of students working to innovate, learn and build their skills using global technologies. Singh would not confirm whether their booth was removed from the summit and neither did spokespeople from the university. The incident comes as India tries to cast itself as a global hub for AI innovation with its summit, which kicked off earlier this week with long queues and delays at the venue.

India boots a private university from an AI summit over a robot dog controversy

NEW DELHI (AP) -- A private Indian university was booted from a top artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi on Wednesday after one of its staffers displayed a commercially available robotic dog made in China, claiming it was the university's own innovation. According to two government officials, Galgotias University was ordered to take down its stand at the summit a day after the university's professor of communications, Neha Singh, told state-run broadcaster DD News that robotic dog Orion was developed by the Centre of Excellence at the university. Internet users, however, quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics with a starting price tag of $1,600 and used widely in research and education. On Wednesday, Singh told reporters she never explicitly claimed the dog was university's own creation, but only an exhibit. The incident was an embarrassment for host country India, the two government officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. However, a statement from Galgotias said the university was "deeply pained" and described the incident as a "propaganda campaign" that could spread negativity and harm the morale of students working to innovate, learn and build their skills using global technologies. It wasn't immediately clear if the university had removed its booth from the summit. Still, the episode underscores the high stakes for India as it tries to cast itself as a global hub for AI and advanced manufacturing, drawing billions of dollars in investments while stressing credibility and local innovation. The summit kicked off on Monday with some organizational hiccups as attendees and exhibitors reported long queues and delays at the venue. Several exhibitors took to social media to complain that their personal belonging and products on display were stolen. Organizers later said the items were recovered and returned. The India AI Impact Summit, billed as a flagship event in the Global South, is attended by at least 20 heads of state and governments, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a session Thursday. Also expected to attend are Google's Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano Amon, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft's President Brad Smith and AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun.

India Boots a Private University From an AI Summit Over a Robot Dog Controversy

NEW DELHI (AP) -- A private Indian university was booted from a top artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi on Wednesday after one of its staffers displayed a commercially available robotic dog made in China, claiming it was the university's own innovation. According to two government officials, Galgotias University was ordered to take down its stand at the summit a day after the university's professor of communications, Neha Singh, told state-run broadcaster DD News that robotic dog Orion was developed by the Centre of Excellence at the university. Internet users, however, quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics with a starting price tag of $1,600 and used widely in research and education. On Wednesday, Singh told reporters she never explicitly claimed the dog was university's own creation, but only an exhibit. The incident was an embarrassment for host country India, the two government officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. However, a statement from Galgotias said the university was "deeply pained" and described the incident as a "propaganda campaign" that could spread negativity and harm the morale of students working to innovate, learn and build their skills using global technologies. It wasn't immediately clear if the university had removed its booth from the summit. Still, the episode underscores the high stakes for India as it tries to cast itself as a global hub for AI and advanced manufacturing, drawing billions of dollars in investments while stressing credibility and local innovation. The summit kicked off on Monday with some organizational hiccups as attendees and exhibitors reported long queues and delays at the venue. Several exhibitors took to social media to complain that their personal belonging and products on display were stolen. Organizers later said the items were recovered and returned. The India AI Impact Summit, billed as a flagship event in the Global South, is attended by at least 20 heads of state and governments, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a session Thursday. Also expected to attend are Google's Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano Amon, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft's President Brad Smith and AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun.

Galgotias University row: After Chinese robot dog, varsity under lens over Korean drone

Galgotias University faces new allegations regarding a drone soccer system, claimed as an in-house innovation but reportedly resembling commercially available South Korean models. This follows controversy over a robot dog also presented as indigenous. Social media users and the Youth Congress have questioned the university's claims, highlighting similarities to existing products and raising concerns about transparency at national innovation events. Galgotias University, already facing backlash for allegedly presenting a Chinese robot dog as its own innovation, is now under fresh scrutiny over claims related to a drone displayed at the same event. Reports suggest the robot dog was not the only device showcased under the Greater Noida-based institute's label, with questions now being raised about a drone soccer system it exhibited. According to a report by The Times of India, the university presented a "drone soccer arena," describing it as an in-house innovation developed on campus. However, several social media users disputed the claim, pointing out similarities with commercially available drone soccer systems from South Korea. A communications professor from the university reportedly defended the exhibit, stating that the drone soccer arena was fully developed by the institution and calling it "India's first" such system. "It is a very interesting project. From end-to-end engineering to its applications, everything has been done at the university. This is India's first drone soccer arena. Students play games inside the arena, fly the drones, improve their flying skills, and are working to enhance its strength and features," she said. Despite these claims, social media users alleged that the drone closely resembles commercially available models from South Korea. Some identified Helsel as a pioneer in drone soccer, noting that the company introduced the sport in 2015 and launched it in South Korea in 2017. The sport is also recognised by the World Air Sports Federation. Others claimed the drone appears similar to products such as the Stryker V3 ARF, which is available commercially. Meanwhile, the Youth Congress questioned the university's claims saying, "First China, now Korea. Galgotias is on a world tour of 'borrowed' innovation. They claimed to have built India's first drone soccer system from scratch on campus, but it's actually just a Striker V3 ARF from Korea," the organisation said. This controversy comes shortly after the university faced criticism for showcasing a robotic dog named "Orion," which observers identified as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robot developed by Chinese robotics company Unitree. The incident triggered widespread debate at the AI Impact Summit, a flagship event inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The university has not issued a fresh clarification regarding the drone soccer arena allegations. However, in response to the earlier robot dog controversy, the institute had dismissed the claims as "propaganda" in a press statement. The initial controversy centred on the robotic dog displayed at the university's stall, which critics said was presented as an in-house innovation despite being a commercially available product priced at around ₹2-3 lakh in India. The incident raised broader concerns about the presentation of imported technologies at a national AI platform intended to showcase indigenous innovation. As scrutiny increased, the university's pavilion at the AI summit was reportedly asked to vacate the exhibition area, with organisers emphasising the need to maintain transparency and compliance standards at the event. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

Galgotias University: Meet the founder Suneel Galgotia of the three-decade old varsity at the center of Chinese AI robot dog row

Galgotias University is under fire. Claims of developing a soccer drone independently are being questioned. Social media users suggest the drone resembles a commercial model. This controversy follows similar questions at an AI summit. The university is a private institution in Greater Noida, part of the Galgotias Education Group. Galgotias University in Uttar Pradesh has found itself at the centre of a controversy after a robotic dog displayed at the India AI Impact Summit was allegedly presented as an in-house innovation, but later identified as a Chinese-made machine. On Tuesday, representatives at the university's stall introduced a robot dog named Orion, stating that it had been developed by the institution's Centre of Excellence. However, social media users quickly pointed out that the robot appeared to be the Unitree Go2, a quadruped robot produced by China-based Unitree Robotics and widely used across the world in academic research and robotics training. Following the claims, the private university initially attempted to defend its position. But later in the day, summit organisers reportedly cut power to the stall and asked the university to vacate the space. The institution subsequently issued a formal apology, attributing the confusion to a staff member who was not fully aware of the robot's technical background. The Greater Noida-based institution added, "Robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop and deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is the need of the hour." Stating that its faculty and students were "deeply pained by the propaganda campaign" against the institution, the university said its vision is focused on student learning and innovation, and that it provides students access to modern technologies to help them gain practical experience and prepare for the future. All about Galgotias University Located in Greater Noida, Galgotias University is spread across a 52-acre and is equipped with modern laboratories, libraries, and digital learning infrastructure. The university offers programmes across multiple disciplines, including engineering, management, sciences, and humanities. It functions under the Galgotias Education Group, which has been working to expand access to higher education in Uttar Pradesh. The Galgotias Education Group runs several institutions in Greater Noida, including: Over the years, the group has expanded from specialised professional education to a full-fledged multidisciplinary university system. Galgotias University is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is part of the long-established Galgotias Education Group. Despite the recent controversy, the institution continues to position itself as a major private university focused on innovation, industry readiness, and future technologies. The university was founded by educationist Suneel Galgotia and operates under the Smt. Shakuntala Educational and Welfare Society, established in 1999 and based in New Delhi. The society oversees the growth and management of Galgotias institutions. The leadership team includes Suneel Galgotia, Padmini Galgotia, and Dhruv Galgotia, who guide academic planning, administration, and long-term strategy. Dhruv Galgotia plays a key role in strengthening industry collaborations and shaping the institution's future direction. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

India boots private university from AI summit - The Korea Times

NEW DELHI -- A private Indian university was booted from a top artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi on Wednesday after one of its staffers displayed a commercially available robotic dog made in China, claiming it was the university's own innovation. According to two government officials, Galgotias University was ordered to take down its stand at the summit a day after the university's professor of communications, Neha Singh, told state-run broadcaster DD News that robotic dog Orion was developed by the Centre of Excellence at the university. Internet users, however, quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics with a starting price tag of $1,600 and used widely in research and education. On Wednesday, Singh told reporters she never explicitly claimed the dog was university's own creation, but only an exhibit. The incident was an embarrassment for host country India, the two government officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. However, a statement from Galgotias said the university was "deeply pained" and described the incident as a "propaganda campaign" that could spread negativity and harm the morale of students working to innovate, learn and build their skills using global technologies. It wasn't immediately clear if the university had removed its booth from the summit. Still, the episode underscores the high stakes for India as it tries to cast itself as a global hub for AI and advanced manufacturing, drawing billions of dollars in investments while stressing credibility and local innovation. The summit kicked off on Monday with some organizational hiccups as attendees and exhibitors reported long queues and delays at the venue. Several exhibitors took to social media to complain that their personal belonging and products on display were stolen. Organizers later said the items were recovered and returned. The India AI Impact Summit, billed as a flagship event in the Global South, is attended by at least 20 heads of state and governments, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a session Thursday. Also expected to attend are Google's Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano Amon, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft's President Brad Smith and AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun.

After Chinese robodog row, Galgotias University's 'AI plane' made of thermocol goes viral, netizens mock it can destroy Pakistan

Galgotias University faced backlash at the India AI Impact Summit after showcasing a robotic dog, later identified as a Chinese-made product, leading to their stall being vacated. A thermocol 'AI plane' model left behind also went viral, drawing mockery and highlighting issues of attribution and optics at the event. A fresh controversy has hit Galgotias University at the India AI Impact Summit, where it was asked to vacate its stall after a robotic dog display sparked backlash, even as a thermocol 'AI plane' model left behind at the venue went viral and drew widespread online mockery. Even as the robot dog row dominated headlines, Galgotias drew fresh attention when a thermocol drone model left behind at the vacated stall was filmed and shared widely online. Visitors began using the model as a prop for reels, turning it into a viral talking point. In its statement, the Greater Noida-based university said robotic programming is part of its effort to help students learn AI and develop real-world skills using globally available tools and resources. It said its faculty and students were "deeply pained by the propaganda campaign" and maintained that its focus remains on student learning, innovation and providing access to modern technology. The row began when a robotic dog named Orion was showcased at the university's stall and presented as a creation of its Centre of Excellence. Soon after, social media users pointed out that the device resembled the Unitree Go2 robot made by China's Unitree Robotics, commonly used worldwide for research and education. As the issue escalated, organisers stepped in and cut power supply to the stall. IT Secretary S Krishnan said the government does not want exhibitors to showcase products that are not their own. "We do not want such exhibits to continue," he said, after organisers asked the university to vacate the stall. Facing mounting criticism, the university issued an apology, attributing the confusion to a representative at the pavilion. "We wish to apologise for the confusion created at the recent AI summit. One of our representatives manning the pavilion was ill-informed," a university spokesperson said. "She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and, in her enthusiasm for being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press. There was no institutional intent to misrepresent the innovation," the spokesperson added. The university said it vacated the premises "understanding the organiser's sentiment" and reiterated its commitment to transparency and academic integrity. The controversy intensified after Neha Singh, a communications professor, told DD News that the robot "has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University". As criticism grew, Singh clarified her remarks. "The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly and the intent may not have been properly understood," she said. "Your six can be my nine. Maybe what I wanted to say I was not able to say because of the scarcity of time, or the noise around us," she added. "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." Officials said the government supports innovation but not misleading displays. Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said the intention is not to stifle innovation but it should not be misleading and the controversy "should not overshadow the kind of effort that the others have put in". Krishnan added that misrepresentation would not be tolerated. "If you mislead... we do not want a controversy (and) so we do not want a controversial agency... whom people believe are exhibiting something which is not theirs," he said. The twin episodes, the robotic dog confusion and the thermocol plane going viral, show how quickly perception can shift at high-profile technology events. The controversy has reinforced a simple message from organisers: showcasing global tools is fine, but presenting them accurately is essential to maintaining credibility. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

AI Impact Summit 2026: UP Private University Act puts Galgotias under state lens amid robot dog row

Galgotias University is under fire for presenting a Chinese robot as its own at the AI Impact Summit. The Uttar Pradesh government may investigate the university. The university has apologized for the misinformation. It has withdrawn from the summit. The incident caused embarrassment for the Indian government hosting the event. New Delhi: Galgotias University - under fire for allegedly showcasing a China-made robot as its own invention at the ongoing AI Impact Summit - could soon face scrutiny from the Uttar Pradesh government, given its status as a state private university, sources said on Wednesday. Though the varsity holds UGC recognition and a NAAC A grade granted by central authorities, disciplinary jurisdiction is expected to rest with the state government in Lucknow. The UP Private Universities Act, 2019 provides for regulatory oversight and disciplinary action in cases of violations, non-compliance or activities deemed "anti-national". The UP State Council of Higher Education serves as the nodal body for coordination and monitoring of private universities on academic standards, fee structures, quality benchmarks and other regulatory norms. The university was asked to withdraw from the summit and vacate its stall on Wednesday after Chinese media highlighted the robo-dog's origins, triggering embarrassment for the Indian government, which is hosting the high-profile event for the first time. The summit has drawn several companies and foreign delegations, including over a dozen heads of state and government. In a statement issued after the controversy, the university apologised for the "confusion created" and "factually incorrect information" shared by one of its representatives. "We at Galgotias University wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent AI Summit. One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed and unaware of the technical origins of the product. In her enthusiasm while on camera, she provided factually incorrect information, though she was not authorised to speak to the press. Understanding the organisers' sentiment, we have vacated the premises," the statement said. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

Galgotias University apologises for AI Summit mix-up, blames ill-informed rep

New Delhi: Private university Galgotias on Wednesday apologised for "confusion" after a controversy arose over the display of a made-in-China robotic dog as its own innovation during the India AI Impact Summit and said one of its representatives manning the pavilion was "ill-informed". The controversy erupted after Neha Singh, a professor of communications at the University, on Tuesday showed to DD News a robotic dog Orion, saying it "has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University". As the video went viral, social media users highlighted that the robot was actually a Unitree Go2, manufactured by China's Unitree Robotics and commonly used in research and education worldwide. As the episode snowballed into a controversy, the university was asked to vacate the stall at the AI summit. "We wish to apologise for the confusion created at the recent AI summit. One of our representatives manning the pavilion was ill-informed," a university spokesperson said. "She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and, in her enthusiasm for being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press. There was no institutional intent to misrepresent the innovation," the spokesperson added. Earlier on Wednesday, IT Secretary S Krishnan said the government does not want any exhibitor to showcase items that are not their own. "We do not want such exhibits to continue," he said, after organisers asked Galgotias University to vacate its stall.

Galgotias University asked to vacate AI Impact Summit Expo stall over 'robotic dog' row

Galgotias University faced removal from the AI Summit Expo. A robotic dog, presented as an in-house innovation, was identified as a China-made Unitree Go2. This led to accusations of misrepresentation. The university stated its focus is on student learning using global tools. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event, highlighting India's AI advancements. Galgotias University has reportedly been asked to immediately vacate its stall at the AI Summit Expo following a controversy over a robotic dog it showcased at the event. According to reports, the row erupted after the university displayed a robotic dog named "Orion" at the expo, presenting it as part of its artificial intelligence and robotics initiatives. However, critics on social media alleged that the device was actually a China-made Unitree Go2 and not an in-house innovation. Amid mounting online backlash and accusations of misrepresenting imported technology as its own, the university was directed to vacate its stall. Amid the escalating row, Galgotias University issued an official clarification, expressing concern over what it described as a "propaganda campaign" against the institution. "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 AI programming and develop & deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of an hour," the statement said. The university added that its vision is focused on student learning and innovation, and that it provides access to modern technologies to help students gain practical experience. "Spreading negativity can harm the morale of students, who are working hard to innovate, learn, and build their skills using global technologies," it said. In a press release issued by Galgotias University, it described ORION -- short for Operational Robotic Intelligence Node -- as a "major crowd puller" at its pavilion. The university said the robotic system interacted live with delegates and demonstrated applied robotics and intelligent systems integration. "The live demonstrations drew significant attention, reinforcing the University's emphasis on hands-on, real world AI deployment," the statement said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, saying India's advances in artificial intelligence would contribute not just to national transformation but also to global progress. The summit has drawn over 20 Heads of State, 60 ministers and 500 global AI leaders, positioning it as one of the largest AI gatherings hosted in the Global South. (With inputs from agencies)

Orion or Unitree Go2? Viral robodog row sees Galgotias kicked out of India AI Impact Summit

Despite reports of being asked to vacate the expo area, a faculty member said no official communication had been received regarding removal from the summit. Galgotias University has reportedly been asked to vacate its stall at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi after controversy erupted over a robotic dog showcased at the expo. As per the reports, the action was taken after videos circulated online appearing to show university representatives presenting a commercially available Chinese robot as an in-house innovation. Social media users identified the robot on display as the Unitree Go2, a quadruped machine manufactured by China-based Unitree Robotics and sold in India for between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. At the summit, however, the device was introduced as "Orion" and described on camera as a product developed by the university's Centre of Excellence. The videos from the event showed a university representative explaining the robot's capabilities to the media while claiming that it was developed in-house. In another interaction, a faculty member claimed that the machine was built by the university's team. These videos quickly went viral online, with users claiming that imported hardware was being portrayed as an Indian innovation. In a statement published on X, the university stated that the robotic dog was purchased from Unitree as part of its efforts to expose students to emerging technologies. It maintained that the machine was intended as a teaching tool and experimentation platform, rather than a product developed on campus. The statement stated that, while the robot was being used for academic research, the institution did not design or manufacture it. The university later described the backlash as a concerted effort to tarnish its image. However, the post drew a Community Note on X, which pointed out inconsistencies between the university's clarification and previous on-camera claims by its representatives, such as renaming the robot "Orion." One faculty member who had previously described the robot as a university development later suggested that there may have been a communication breakdown during media interactions, stating that she is from the School of Management and is not directly involved in AI development. She explained that the robot had been brought to the expo for demonstration purposes. Meanwhile, another university professor stated that they had not received any official communication about being asked to vacate the summit premises, despite reports to the contrary.