Galgotias University is facing criticism after a professor falsely presented a Chinese-made robot dog as the university’s own creation at the India AI Impact Summit.
The robot, identified as the Unitree Go2, is manufactured by Unitree Robotics in China. It costs around $2,800 and is widely used in research and education.
Professor Neha Singh introduced the robot on state-run DD News, claiming it was developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence. Social media users quickly recognized the robot, sparking widespread backlash.
Video Shared by Minister Intensifies Backlash
The controversy grew after Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video clip on social media. The post was later deleted.
The incident raised concerns about India’s AI credibility and the proper representation of homegrown technology.
Galgotias University clarified:
“Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed to. We are focused on educating minds to design and manufacture such technologies in the future.”
University staff continued to interact with visitors at their summit stall, responding to questions about misrepresentation and plagiarism.
Political Criticism Follows
The Indian National Congress (INC) criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the incident a “global embarrassment.”
The party said:
“Chinese robots are being presented as India’s own at the AI summit. This is brazenly shameless.”
India AI Impact Summit Highlights
The India AI Impact Summit, running until Saturday, is the first major AI event hosted in the Global South. Nearly 20 world leaders and dozens of delegations are attending.
Key speakers include PM Narendra Modi, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.
Despite overcrowding and logistical challenges, the summit has already generated over $100 billion in investment pledges. Major contributors include Adani Group, Microsoft, and Yotta.
Global Implications
This episode underscores the importance of accurate technology representation at high-profile events. While the summit boosts AI investments in India, misrepresenting technology can damage India’s global reputation.
