Galgotias University is facing criticism after a professor presented a Chinese-made robot dog as the university’s own creation during the India AI Impact Summit. The robot, known as the Unitree Go2, is sold by Unitree Robotics for about $2,800 and is commonly used in research and education.
Professor Neha Singh claimed on state broadcaster DD News that the robot was developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence. Social media users quickly recognized it as an imported model, which triggered backlash online.
Minister Shares Video, Controversy Grows
The issue escalated when Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the presentation on social media. The clip was later deleted following public criticism.
The controversy cast doubt on India’s AI ambitions and highlighted the importance of credibility in showcasing homegrown technology.
The university clarified:
“Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed it. We are developing minds that will design and create such technologies in the future.”
University staff continued to answer questions from visitors at the summit stall regarding misrepresentation concerns.
Political Backlash
The Indian National Congress (INC) criticized the government, saying the incident made India a “laughing stock globally.”
The party said:
“This is embarrassing for India. Chinese robots are being shown as our own technologies. This is brazenly shameless.”
India AI Impact Summit Overview
The summit, running until Saturday, is the first major AI event in the Global South. It features nearly 20 world leaders and international delegations. Key speakers include PM Narendra Modi, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.
Despite overcrowding and logistics challenges, the summit has secured over $100 billion in AI investments, including from the Adani Group, Microsoft, and Yotta.
Lesson for India’s AI Reputation
This episode emphasizes the need for accurate representation in high-profile technology events. While the summit has boosted AI funding, misrepresentation can damage India’s global credibility.
