New Delhi | February 18 2026
What was intended to be a moment of pride for a private university in Greater Noida at one of India’s largest and most famous technology gatherings has now transformed into a full-blown public relations crisis. Galgotias University, which had booked a booth for the India AI Impact Summit 2026 that was held in Bharat Mandapam located in New Delhi, now finds it at the heart of a raging controversy following the introduction of a professor an unlicensed Chinese-made robotic dog that was the university’s own creation, before abruptly changing course when social media spotted.
Summit and the Robot Named “Orion” Summit and the robot named “Orion” Galgotias robot controversy
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is a flagship five-day event held within the India AI Mission and the Digital India initiative. The event was launched by the Prime Secretary Narendra Modi, the summit has attracted more than 20 Heads of state, sixty ministers and 500 world AI leaders which makes it the first large-scale global AI summit to be held by the Global South. It is organized around three pillars – People, Planet, and Progress -which are designed to establish India as a significant player within the international AI race.
Galgotias University, a private institution located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh was present at the summit’s expo segment and showcased the sleek, silver robot dog with a quadruped at its stand. The robot was unveiled by the moniker “Orion” and was shown to journalists in a live walkthrough.
Professor Neha Singh from Galgotias University told an Indian television reporter “You must get to know Orion,” as the robot performed tricks like wavering at cameras and bouncing on its hind feet. “This is a product of the centers of excellence located at Galgotias University,” she stated, while also praising the university’s investment in artificial technology for intelligence.
She further said the fact that Galgotias was the only private school to invest more than Rs350 crore into artificial intelligence. They also had an entire research and AI block within the campus. Orion was, as she stated was the result of this huge investment.
Social Media Blossoms the Lid Off
The telecast exploded through X (formerly Twitter), but not in the manner the university had hoped for. According to a post that went viral the robot at issue seemed to be akin to the Unitree Go2 — a quadruple robotic dog created by Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics. Screenshots posted alongside the post revealed a contrast between the robot that was displayed at the summit as well as the Unitree Go2 listing of the product that is priced at 2800 dollars (around Rs2.3-2.5 lakh, based upon exchange rate).
The article that may have ignited the furore was written: “So Galgotia university purchased a robot that was commercially available for Rs2.5 lakhs, branded it their own and handed it off at the Delhi AI Summit as a part of their 350 crore AI ecosystem. ” The idea gained massive attention within a matter of hours.
Unitree Robotics’ robodogs are advanced four-legged machines designed to mimic animal movements and perform a variety of duties, such as the ability to navigate obstacles, conduct inspections and even entertainment. The Chinese firm has attracted recognition for selling the robots for sale at much cheaper prices than competitors like Boston Dynamics’ Spot, making them easier to access.
In essence, “Orion” was not an original Galgotias invention. It was a product that was off the shelf accessible online and easy to recognize by its original logo, which, according to critics it was visible in the device’s top.
The University Makes U-Turns Galgotias fake robot claim
After the viral video was released, Galgotias University made a U-turn and said it was “never claimed to be the creator of Robodog.” The school issued an announcement on X to clarify that it was “recently purchased Robodog by unitree. Unitree.” “It is more than an exhibit piece -it’s a classroom that is in motion. Students are exploring it to test its limits, and, as a result growing their skills,” it said.
The university also released an evening statement that expressed its displeasure about what it described as an “propaganda propaganda campaign.” “We at Galgotias faculty and students are extremely hurt by the anti-university propaganda campaign. our institution… spreading negative thoughts can affect the spirits of students who strive to learn, innovate and improve their skills by utilizing global technology.”
In the meantime the professor Neha Singh, the same faculty member who was featured in the viral clipprovided a very different explanation to reporters. “We have never claimed it’s the property of our institution, Indian, or Galgotian. The main brand name is visible on it. The robot which was brought in to perform a specific task is there for children’s studies, and for the children’s development and research,” she explained in a statement, calling the incident an “misinterpretation.”
The other professor in the class, the Dr. Aishwarya Shrivastava, echoed the same sentiment: “We never claimed that we invented it (robodog) It was just a small part of the AI investment. The misinterpretation of the data occurred in a huge way.”
To leave the Summit
The repercussions went beyond embarrassment on the internet. Galgotias University was asked to remove its exhibit space due to the controversy, as per sources from the government. The decision was prompted by concerns that the incident was obscuring the larger goals that the conference was aiming for.
The university’s interpretation was different. Professor Neha Singh explained, “Only you (the media) have been able to hear that the federal government stated. From what I can tell we are at the Expo. As as a university, we’re standing strong.” Dr. Shrivastava added that she was not aware of the formal order to leave. The differing reports added another layer of confusion to a narrative that is already briskly moving which is largely influenced by viral videos as well as platform-based fact-checks.
The Political Reaction and the Context
The incident attracted harsh political criticism. Congress declared the incident “truly shocking” and described”the AI Impact Summit a “disorganised publicity spectacle.” The controversy, framed against India’s ambitious AI goals, has ignited an ongoing debate on the way universities define and communicate the concept of innovation.
This isn’t the first time that Galgotias is at the center of controversy. ThePrint was widely mocked in 2024 when students who attended the protests could not identify the motives of their participation. Likewise, in the year 2020, a researcher at the university was praised by publishing a theory that claimed coronavirus can be killed by sounds of a bell or thali.
The Takeaway
In the case of Galgotias University, the episode highlights the dangers inherent in high-visibility technology exhibits. In an age where videos travel across the globe in a matter of minutes, and claims are quickly dissected on the internet the chance of being misinterpreted diminishes. The only thing that is certain is the fact that a robot dog meant to be a demonstration tool is now a symbol of an ongoing debate that is not only on the booth of one institution, but rather, how innovation is identified, presented and defended on a global stage.
