AI Summit embarrassment! Galgotias University asked to vacate stall after ‘own robot’ exposed as China’s Unitree Go2

The robot shown in the video was identified as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic dog sold in India at a price ranging between Rs. 2 lakh and Rs. 3 lakh.

The viral video featured a woman, later identified as Professor Neha Singh, referring to the robotic dog as “Orion” and claiming it had been developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence.

As the video spread widely on social media, netizens quickly identified the robotic dog as the imported Unitree Go2 and accused the university of passing off a Chinese product as an indigenous innovation.

However, Professor Singh denied that her claims were misleading. She said, “It might be possible that I couldn’t explain myself correctly, due to constraints in time or the surrounding buzz. It is also possible that the reporters didn’t pay full attention to my words with patience.”

In a formal statement posted on X, Galgotias University admitted that the robotic dog was not built by the institution but clarified that its students were using it for research and learning purposes.

“Innovation knows no borders. Learning should not either. We will continue to source the best technologies from across the world so our students can study them, challenge them, improve upon them — and ultimately create world-class solutions from India for the world,” the university said.

“This is not about importing technology. This is about inspiring transformation. This is about empowering young innovators to dream bigger — and build those dreams in India,” the statement added.

When asked about reports that authorities had asked the university to vacate its stall at the summit, Professor Singh declined to accept the directive, saying, “We are here as of now and standing tall as a university.”