Controversy has erupted at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi after Galgotias University found itself at the center of a major tech row.
What was meant to be a showcase of cutting edge research took an unexpected turn when a robotic dog displayed at the university’s exhibition stall drew intense scrutiny online. A faculty member introduced the machine dubbed Orion and suggested it was associated with the university’s AI work. But within hours social media users quickly identified the robot as a Unitree Go2 a commercially available Chinese made robotic dog from Unitree Robotics not a unique homegrown invention.
Clips of the presentation went viral sparking widespread backlash and ridicule on platforms like X Instagram and YouTube as users shared comparisons showing the two were essentially the same machine. The episode became one of the most talked about moments of the summit overshadowing genuine discussions about innovation and AI development.
The Indian government which is positioning the summit as a key platform to highlight the country’s technological ambitions reacted quickly. Officials reportedly asked Galgotias University to vacate its exhibition space amid the embarrassment and criticism.
Galgotias University issued statements saying the robot was part of student learning and research and later apologized for the confusion attributing the remarks to an “ill informed”representative. The university clarified it had not built the robot itself but the damage to credibility was already done.
The incident has ignited debates about transparency research integrity and the challenges universities face in balancing real innovation with public expectations at a moment when India aims to establish itself as a leader in AI on the world stage.
