Galgotias Issues Clarification After Row Over Chinese Robodog at AI Summit

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Galgotias University faced online backlash after a faculty member introduced a quadruped robot as being developed at the university’s Centre of Excellence. The robot was later identified as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available product from Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics, prompting criticism that the institution had misrepresented its origins. During the presentation, Professor Neha Singh referred to the robodog, named “Orion,” as having been developed at the university.

Following the controversy, Galgotias University issued a clarification stating that it had neither built nor claimed to have built the robot. The university said the robodog was recently acquired from Unitree as part of its efforts to expose students to cutting-edge global technologies. In its statement, the institution emphasized that the machine serves as a learning platform, allowing students to experiment with advanced robotics and artificial intelligence systems.

The episode also drew political reactions. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda criticized the incident, saying India has traditionally been ahead in the IT and technology sector and calling the development “unpardonable” in the context of a major AI summit. The controversy has sparked a broader debate around transparency and representation in India’s fast-growing AI and robotics ecosystem.

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