New Delhi: Galgotias University was shown the door at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi Wednesday for presenting a made-in-China robotic dog called “Orion” as their own innovation. Neha Singh, the professor at the centre of the controversy, went on a damage-control mode, claiming that her comments about the robot’s ownership were “misinterpreted”.
The Greater Noida university has also distanced itself from claims that it built the machine. Soon after the development, Singh’s LinkedIn profile stated ‘open to work’.
A professor of communication, Singh, on her LinkedIn bio, claimed that she has the ability to connect, inspire, and elevate others through her command of language.
“With a natural flair for language, articulation, and stage presence, I have spent years helping individuals unlock their voice and express themselves with clarity and impact. I believe the right words at the right time can truly change everything,” states Singh’s bio on LinkedIn.
The controversy
The controversy began after videos from the five-day event showed representatives from Galgotias University presenting the robotic dog as a product developed by its Centre of Excellence, headed by Singh, who represents the university in artificial intelligence and robotics-related initiatives.
“This is Orion. This has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at the Galgotias University,” Singh was heard saying in the clips.
The clips went viral on social media, and the professor’s claims were debunked after users pointed out that the innovation was developed and commercially sold by a Chinese company, Unitree. It is commercially available for $2,800.
A row erupted, and the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology directed the university to vacate the pavilion. Singh then came out with a clarification, contradicting what was claimed on her LinkedIn bio.
“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 confidently, 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.
Galgotias University issued a formal statement that appeared to contradict Singh’s claims. The university asserted that it had “never claimed to have built” the robodog, instead describing it as a “classroom in motion” purchased to provide students with exposure to global technology.
“We would like to clearly state that the robotic program is part of our endeavour to enable students to learn AI programming, develop and deploy real-world skills using globally available tools and resources, given the urgent need to develop AI talent,” the university said in a statement.
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Who is Professor Neha Singh?
Singh is an assistant professor at the Galgotias University in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. She has been with the university since November 2023.
She represents the university in AI and robotics and has actively participated in several academic and technology forums. According to her LinkedIn profile, before joining Galgotias University, she worked as an assistant professor at Sharda University, Greater Noida.
She completed her MBA from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)