Chicago – February 18, 2026
Galgotias University, a private institution in Greater Noida, India, was ordered to dismantle its exhibit at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi after falsely presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own innovation. The controversy erupted when communications professor Neha Singh told state broadcaster DD News that the robot, dubbed Orion, was developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence, showcasing tricks like waving and jumping.
Netizens quickly identified the device as Unitree Robotics’ Go2 model, a commercially available Chinese product priced from $1,600, widely used in education. Government sources confirmed the university received instructions to vacate its stall the following day, deeming the incident an embarrassment amid India’s push for AI credibility.
The university apologized on X, clarifying it purchased the robot as a “classroom in motion” for student experiments, denying any construction claim. Professor Singh attributed the backlash to miscommunication, while opposition Congress criticized the Modi government, calling it a “global laughingstock.” The five-day summit, hosting world leaders, faced separate complaints over logistics and thefts.
