An Indian university sparked debate at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi after an official appeared to claim that a Chinese-made robotic dog was its own invention.

The Incident

• A professor from Galgotias University told DD News that a robot named “Orion” was “developed” at their Centre of Excellence.
• Online users identified the robot as Go2, a commercially available model by Chinese company Unitree Robotics, priced at roughly ₹200,000 ($2,200 / £1,600).
• The video of her remarks went viral, prompting social media backlash.

University Response

• Galgotias University stated it never claimed to have built the robot, describing the backlash as a “propaganda campaign.”
• The university clarified that the robot was used to teach students AI programming and real-world skills using globally available tools.
• Professor Neha Singh, seen in the video, said her comments were 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.”

Summit Consequences

• Following the backlash, reports suggested the university was asked to vacate its stall, although staff claimed they received no official communication.
• News agency Press Trust of India reported that electricity to the stall was cut off, and the booth was unmanned hours later.
• The incident caused embarrassment for summit organisers, as the video had also been shared on IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s official X account (later deleted).

Official Reactions

• India’s IT Secretary S Krishnan urged that the controversy not overshadow other participants:“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.”

Summit Overview

• The India AI Impact Summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and aims to position India as a global AI hub.
• Delegates from 100+ countries, including industry leaders such as Sundar Pichai, are attending.
• The five-day event features policy discussions, startup showcases, and AI governance talks.
• Its opening day faced overcrowding and long queues, but organisers have since improved management.

The episode highlights the sensitivity around innovation claims at high-profile tech events, especially in the rapidly growing AI sector.