Galgotias University Removed from India AI Impact Summit Expo Over Robot Controversy

New Delhi

Galgotias University has been removed from the India AI Impact Summit Expo after it allegedly showcased a Chinese robotic dog and a Korean drone as its own projects. Organisers reportedly cut off electricity to the university’s pavilion, locked it, and barricaded the area following the controversy.

The action came after a video went viral in which the university claimed that a robotic dog displayed at its stall was its own invention. The robot was later identified as the Go2 model developed by Chinese company Unitree Robotics. The university had also presented a Korean-made drone as a product developed from scratch on its campus.

Controversy Erupts After Viral Video

In the video, Professor Neha Singh introduced the robotic dog as “Orion,” claiming it was developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence. She also stated that the university was investing ₹350 crore in the field of AI.

However, several tech experts and social media users pointed out that the robot appeared to be the Unitree Go2, a commercially available product priced between ₹2–3 lakh. Similarly, the drone showcased by the university was identified by users as the ready-made Striker V3 ARF model, reportedly priced around ₹40,000.

University Issues Apology

Galgotias University apologised for the incident, stating that a representative at the stall lacked complete technical knowledge about the product. According to the university, the staff member mistakenly provided incorrect information in excitement while speaking to the media, despite not being authorised to do so.

The university later clarified that it had never claimed to have built the robotic dog. It stated that the device was recently procured from Unitree as part of its efforts to expose students to advanced global technologies. The institution emphasised that students were using the robot for research and experimentation purposes.

Professor Neha Singh also accepted responsibility, saying the controversy arose due to unclear communication delivered in enthusiasm.

X Adds Community Note

After the university’s clarification, social media platform X added a “Community Note” to the post, stating that the claim that the university never presented the robot as its own was misleading. The Community Notes feature allows users to fact-check and add contextual information to potentially misleading posts.

Congress Criticises Government

The Indian National Congress criticised the government over the incident, alleging that India’s image had been damaged globally. The party claimed that Chinese media mocked India over the episode and described it as an embarrassment.

Congress also accused Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw of being associated with promoting Chinese robots at an Indian summit.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi described the AI Summit as a “disorganised PR spectacle,” alleging that instead of effectively utilising India’s talent and data, the event turned into a poorly managed publicity exercise.

Knowledge Box: What is Unitree Go2?

The Unitree Go2 is an AI-powered robotic dog developed by Unitree Robotics in China. Known for its agility and advanced sensors, it features 4D LiDAR technology, enabling it to climb stairs, navigate rough terrain, and detect obstacles. Priced between ₹2–3 lakh, the robot responds to voice commands and is widely used in research and educational settings.

Unitree is globally recognised for manufacturing high-performance robotic dogs and humanoid robots with advanced sensor technologies for research, education, and industrial applications.

About Galgotias University

Established in 2011, Galgotias University is located in Greater Noida and offers over 200 courses ranging from diploma to PhD programmes across 20 schools. Sunil Galgotia serves as the Chancellor, while Dhruv Galgotia is the CEO.

 

 

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