An Indian university has been asked to vacate its stall at the country’s flagship AI summit after a staff member presented a commercially available Chinese robotic dog as its own creation, according to two government sources.
The controversy unfolded at the India AI Impact Summit, currently taking place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Viral Claim Sparks Backlash
“This is Orion. This has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University,” said Neha Singh, a communications professor at Galgotias University, in remarks to state broadcaster DD News earlier this week.
However, social media users quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2. The device is manufactured by Unitree Robotics and sells for about $2,800. Research institutions and universities worldwide commonly use it for robotics and artificial intelligence projects.
As criticism mounted online, the episode cast an uncomfortable spotlight on India’s artificial intelligence ambitions. The situation intensified after Ashwini Vaishnaw shared the video clip on his official social media account. He later deleted the post as backlash grew.
University Denies Misrepresentation
Both Galgotias University and Singh subsequently clarified that the robot was not developed by the university. They also stated that the institution had never formally claimed ownership of the device.
Despite reports that officials had asked the university to vacate its stall, representatives at the booth said they had not received any formal communication about removal. As of Wednesday morning, the stall remained open, with university officials responding to questions from journalists about allegations of plagiarism and misrepresentation.
Meanwhile, the summit itself continues to draw global attention. Organisers have promoted the gathering as the first major AI event hosted in the Global South. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the event. Executives including Sundar Pichai of Google, Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dario Amodei of Anthropic are also expected to speak.
Broader Challenges At The Summit
The event has faced additional organisational difficulties since opening. Delegates have reported overcrowding and logistical disruptions. Nevertheless, organisers say the summit has secured more than $100 billion in pledged investments for Indian AI projects.
Among those committing funds are the Adani Group, Microsoft and data centre firm Yotta.
Opposition leaders have seized on the controversy. The Indian National Congress criticised the government on social media, arguing that the incident had damaged India’s global reputation in artificial intelligence.
As scrutiny continues, the episode highlights the intense expectations surrounding India’s technology ambitions and the reputational risks that accompany high profile international events.
With inputs from Reuters
