The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was meant to be a showcase of India’s soaring technological prowess, but it has instead become the center of a heated national controversy. Galgotias University, a prominent private institution, was reportedly asked to vacate its pavilion after allegedly presenting a commercially available Chinese robot as a homegrown innovation.
What began as a viral social media clip has now escalated into a political firestorm, leading to the university’s stall being barricaded and its power supply cut off by summit organizers.
The 'Orion' vs. Unitree Go2 Fiasco
The controversy was sparked by a video from the summit floor showing a university representative, Professor Neha Singh, demonstrating a quadruped robot named “Orion.” In the footage, Singh claimed the robot was "developed by the Center of Excellence at Galgotias University" and was part of a massive ₹350 crore investment in AI.
However, tech enthusiasts and "eagle-eyed" netizens quickly identified the machine as the Unitree Go2, a mass-produced robotic dog manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics. The robot, which features 4D LiDAR technology and advanced sensors, is available globally for approximately ₹2–3 lakh.
The backlash was swift, with social media platform X (formerly Twitter) attaching a Community Note to the university’s claims, labeling them as "misleading."
"Excitement and Enthusiasm": The University’s Defense
Following the uproar, Galgotias University issued a statement clarifying that it did not build the robot. The institution now describes the Unitree Go2 as a “walking classroom” intended for student research and experimentation rather than a proprietary product.
Professor Neha Singh later addressed the media, taking personal accountability for the miscommunication.
"I could not say it clearly in excitement. It all happened very quickly, in a state of enthusiasm," Singh stated, adding that the university’s intent was to inspire students by providing them with global technology.
Despite the apology, reports indicate that the summit organizers took stern action, forcing the university to leave the expo area to maintain the integrity of the national event.
Key Takeaways of the Controversy:
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The Robot: Identified as a Chinese-made Unitree Go2, rebranded by the university as "Orion."
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The Action: Organizers cut off power and barricaded the Galgotias stall at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
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The Reaction: Social media users and tech experts accused the university of "passing off" imported tech as indigenous.
Political Backlash: "National Embarrassment"
The incident has provided fresh ammunition for the Opposition. The Congress party issued a scathing statement, accusing the government of turning the summit into a "laughing stock."
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi took to social media to voice his criticism, stating:
“Instead of making proper use of India’s talent and data, this AI summit has become a haphazard PR spectacle—where India’s data is put up for sale, and Chinese products are being flaunted.”
Critics argue that allowing such a lapse at a high-profile event—attended by global leaders—damages India’s "Make in India" credibility in the critical field of Artificial Intelligence.
Conclusion: A Lesson in Academic Integrity
As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 continues in Delhi, the Galgotias incident serves as a cautionary tale for educational institutions. While utilizing global tools for research is standard practice, the line between "using" and "developing" must remain clear to protect both institutional and national reputation.
For now, the university labs in Greater Noida will remain the home for "Orion," while the academic community debates the ethics of innovation branding in the age of viral transparency.
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