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.