At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Galgotias University faced backlash after its “Orion” robot was identified as China’s Unitree Go2. The MeitY-led organizers ordered its stall removal, sparking debate over AI innovation, credibility, and academic accountability.
The India AI Impact Summit, 2026, is revered for its major success and is also acclaimed as the first major global AI gathering in the Global South. The Summit has done an exceptional job at showcasing India’s role in Artificial Intelligence research, innovation, investment, and policy leadership.
Leaders from governments and tech firms were expected to participate, and significant investments were pledged, totaling over $100–200 billion from major corporations and domestic tech groups. However, one of the participants of the event, the Galgotias University, gained the media's attention, but not for good reasons.
At the Summit's exhibition, Galgotias University showcased a robotic dog it labeled “Orion.” During an interview, a communication faculty member, Professor Neha Singh, claimed that the robot was developed by the University's Centre of Excellence.
But the claims were proven false, as some social media and tech quickly recognised the robot as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot manufactured by the Chinese company Unitree Robotics, sold globally for a few lakh rupees. Once identified, the claim sparked widespread ridicule, political backlash, and viral spread of the footage.
Summit organizers, led by the government’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and IndiaAI Mission, ordered Galgotias University to vacate its exhibition stall for misrepresentation of innovation. Govt officials noted that summit exhibits should represent original work, not repackaged imported products.
Robot dog row at AI Summit | Galgotias University’s booth barricaded, officials say don’t want ‘controversial agency’ misleading public
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) February 18, 2026
After #GalgotiasUniversity was asked to vacate its booth at the ongoing India AI Expo, co-located within the AI Impact Summit in Bharat… pic.twitter.com/buhQ8RdbbR
Galgotias University published a public statement addressing the issue. The university stated that the communication faculty member was ill-informed and made wrong statements due to her "excitement to be on camera". The university insisted it never claimed to have built the robot itself, asserting it was being used as a learning tool for students as part of larger AI investments. The pavilion was reportedly cleared after the organizers’ directive.
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