Galgotias University based in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida were ejected from the India AI Impact Summit (February 16–20, 2026) – the event pitched by the Indian government as a flagship gathering to position India as a global AI hub – after they showcased the robot dog as part of their indigenous AI ecosystem. The robotic quadruped which they named "Orion" was identified as a commercial Unitree Go2, a mass-produced model from Chinese company Unitree Robotics, which can be purchased online for about $2,800.
Meaning, the university hadn't built anything. They'd unboxed something, pointed it at a camera, and called it innovation! In reality, it was a devil-may-care deception that was bold, brash and brazen!
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The incident created embarrassment for the organisers of the summit – which was aimed to highlight Indian technological self-reliance – as the video had also been shared on IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's official X account. The post had since been deleted.
And the video of the university professor, Neha Singh who proudly claimed that the four-legged robot was developed at their Centre of Excellence went viral.
Later, after a torrent of disapproval and denunciation, she said her remarks were not clearly articulated and expressed regret over how they were interpreted. The Head of the Communications Department, School of Business told Hindustan Times that the controversy stemmed from hurried communication and enthusiasm at the event, not from any intention to falsely claim ownership of the machine.
"It might be that I could not convey well what I wanted to say, or you could not understand well what I wanted to say", she had tried to explain.
But that remark was so laughable! The academic’s LinkedIn bio highlighted her focused expertise on communication skills.
“I have always believed that communication is more than just a skill – it is a force that shapes identity, builds confidence, and opens doors. With a natural flair for language, articulation, and stage presence, I have spent years helping individuals unlock their voice and express themselves with clarity and impact", she wrote.
“What sets me apart is not just my command of language, but the ability to connect, inspire, and elevate others through it. I enjoy working with learners at various stages – guiding them to communicate with confidence, professionalism, and authenticity", the bio further stated.
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Social media users pounced on the private university, known for their closeness, engagement with the ruling BJP party and BJP politicians, and accused the tertiary institution of dishonesty.
In a statement on Wednesday, the university denied claiming they had built the robot and described the backlash as a "propaganda campaign".
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"We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop and deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of the hour", the university responded.
At least three statements had been issued by Galgotias University in the aftermath of this awkward situation.
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