New Delhi: Galgotias University has put the blame on their professor in a formal apology for presenting a Chinese-made Unitree Go2 robotic dog, as their own, at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 18 February.
The Greater-Noida-based university said that the mistake occurred because Professor Neha Singh, who was manning the pavilion, was “ill-informed” about the robot and had no authority to speak to the media.
“She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and, in her enthusiasm for being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press,” the university said in a statement.
Singh had claimed that “Orion” was developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence as part of a Rs 350 crore AI project.
“This is Orion. This has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at the Galgotias University,” Singh was heard saying in a clip.
Social media users, however, were quick to point out that it was actually a Unitree Go2 model, available in India for around Rs 2–3 lakh.
The university expressed “profound regret” for the confusion and emphasised that there was no intent to mislead. It clarified that Orion is a student learning tool, sourced internationally to provide hands-on AI experience, and is not a proprietary invention.
The professor then went on a damage-control mode, claiming that her comments about the robot’s ownership were “misinterpreted”.
“The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps, I did not communicate it properly, as it was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do,” said Singh.
Speaking to reporters, Singh said her intent was never to claim that the university “manufactured” the robobog.
“I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them, to create something better on their own,” she said.
Also Read: Unitree Robotics is China’s no 1 AI firm. Roboarms, dogs, IPO coming next
A PR spectacle
At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, a robotic dog stole the spotlight — but for the wrong reasons. The backlash was swift and prompted organisers including the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, to ask the university to vacate its stall.
The incident quickly drew widespread criticism and overshadowed other innovations showcased at the summit. In response, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) took decisive action. “We want genuine work to be exhibited. Plagiarism and misleading claims cannot be encouraged at a platform meant for global innovation,” said IT Secretary S Krishnan.
While opposition leaders described the episode as a “PR spectacle,” MeitY Additional Secretary Abhishek Singh highlighted that the central issue was misleading the public in a high-profile setting where “the whole world is watching.”
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)
Before selecting exhibits for the actual event, they should have public review. All such discrepancies should have been exposed before the actual event.