University Kicked Out of AI Summit After Falsely Claiming Chinese Robot as Own

Galgotias University was removed from a major artificial intelligence conference in New Delhi after a professor presented a commercially available Chinese robotic dog as the school's own innovation. Internet users quickly identified the robot as a $1,600 product from China's Unitree Robotics.

NEW DELHI — Officials at a major artificial intelligence conference in New Delhi removed a private Indian university from the event Wednesday following controversy over a robotic dog display that misrepresented the device’s origins.

Galgotias University faced ejection from the summit after communications professor Neha Singh appeared on DD News, a state-run television network, presenting robotic dog Orion as a creation from the university’s Centre of Excellence.

Online observers rapidly recognized the device as the Unitree Go2, a commercial product manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics that retails for $1,600 and serves common research and educational purposes.

When questioned by media on Wednesday, Singh maintained she had not directly stated the robotic dog represented the university’s original work, characterizing it instead as merely an exhibition piece.

Two government sources, requesting anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly, described the situation as causing embarrassment for India as the summit host nation.

Galgotias University released a statement expressing being “deeply pained” by the circumstances, characterizing the controversy as a “propaganda campaign” with potential to create harmful negativity and damage student motivation as they work toward innovation and skill development using international technologies.

Officials had not confirmed whether the university actually dismantled its exhibition booth at the summit.

The controversy highlights significant pressures facing India as the nation positions itself as a worldwide center for artificial intelligence and sophisticated manufacturing, seeking to attract substantial investment while emphasizing authenticity and domestic innovation capabilities.

Monday’s summit launch experienced operational challenges, with participants and exhibitors encountering extended waiting lines and scheduling problems at the event location. Multiple exhibitors used social media platforms to report theft of personal items and displayed products, though organizers later announced recovery and return of the missing materials.

The India AI Impact Summit, promoted as a premier Global South conference, draws participation from no fewer than 20 national leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to speak at a Thursday session.

Additional expected attendees include Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun.