Web Desk: An Indian university is facing criticism after a professor appeared to claim that a Chinese-made robotic dog was developed at their campus during a major AI summit in New Delhi.
An Indian university has come under fire after a robotic dog displayed at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi was wrongly presented as its own creation.
The controversy began when a professor from Galgotias University told state-run broadcaster DD News that the robotic dog, named “Orion,” was developed at the university’s Centre of Excellence. A video of her comments quickly went viral on social media.
Soon after, online users identified the robot as the Go2 model made by Chinese company Unitree Robotics. The robot is commercially available and costs around 200,000 Indian rupees (about $2,200).
In a statement, the university denied claiming that it had built the robotic dog. It said the project was part of a learning exercise to help students gain real-world AI programming skills using globally available tools.
The professor seen in the viral video, Neha Singh, later said her comments were misunderstood. She said she may not have explained herself clearly.
However, many social media users accused the university of being dishonest.
Stall Shut Down After Controversy
According to reports, the university was asked to vacate its stall at the summit after the backlash. Faculty members said they did not receive any official notice.
Later, news agency Press Trust of India reported that electricity to the university’s stall was cut off. A BBC reporter at the venue said the booth’s lights were turned off and no university staff were present.
The incident also embarrassed event organisers because the video had been shared on IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. The post was later deleted.
India’s IT Secretary, S Krishnan, said the controversy should not distract from the positive work done by others at the summit. He stressed the need for a proper code of conduct and responsible presentation of projects.
The India AI Impact Summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The government is promoting the event as a key step in making India a global AI hub.
Delegates from over 100 countries are attending the five-day event. It includes policy talks, startup showcases and discussions on AI governance and innovation. Industry leaders such as Google CEO Sundar Pichai are also participating.
Although the opening day saw complaints about overcrowding and long queues, officials say arrangements have improved. On the third day, the venue was reportedly full of visitors exploring new AI technologies.
Organisers hope the summit will encourage wider use of artificial intelligence across India.
