Galgotias University passes off Chinese robot dog as its own at AI Summit, calls outcry 'propaganda'

The Galgotias University has been facing backlash after presenting a "Chinese robot dog" as its own at the ongoing AI Summit in Delhi. Amid the controversy, Galgotias has issued a statement calling the backlash a “propaganda” against the university.

As per media reports, Galgotias University was asked to leave the AI Summit and vacate its exhibition stall.

Galgotias University professor Neha Singh, who was present at the AI event, said that the AI robot dog was not "manufactured" by them but was bought only to inspire students. Singh added: “Regarding the robot dog, we cannot claim that we manufactured it. I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own. Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing cutting-edge technologies in the field of AI, and it will continue to do so.”

When the professor was asked about the government asking the university to vacate the expo area, she said: "I do not have any information about that. What I know is that today we are all present here."

Galgotias University under scanner over Robodog claim

The controversy erupted when the university showcased a robotic dog labeled Orion at the AI Summit expo, as its own creation, which critics said was actually a Chinese-made Unitree Go2 and not an "in-house innovation".

The university came under fire over displaying Robodog as its own, which turned out to be an imported product from China. After the backlash, the University said that it had never claimed to have built the robot itself.

“The recently acquired Robodog from Unitree is one such step in that journey. It is not merely a machine on display - it is a classroom in motion. Our students are experimenting with it, testing its limits, and in the process, expanding their own knowledge,” the official university statement said.

The statement further said that the university has brought cutting-edge technologies from the United States, China, and Singapore to its campus to give students exposure to advancements in the field of AI.

Meanwhile, the university's registrar called the entire controversy a "jumble of words." He said that we didn't develop the Robodog, but worked on its "development," as per ANI reports.

"We want to bring them, just like that robot was brought, and an effort was made to get students to research it. I can say that perhaps the professor (Neha Singh) might have been confused by the words develop and development in the flow," he added.