NEW DELHI — An Indian professor sparked controversy after falsely suggesting that a Chinese made robot dog displayed at the AI Impact Summit was developed by her university, drawing criticism from politicians and the public. The incident unfolded at the five-day summit in New Delhi, attended by nearly 20 world leaders and numerous national delegations.
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The silver robotic dog, produced by Chinese startup Unitree, appeared at a booth operated by Galgotias University. During a televised interview, the professor introduced the machine as “Orion,” claiming it was developed by the university’s centres of excellence. She praised the robot for performing tricks such as waving and springing onto its hind legs, describing it as “naughty” and versatile.
Following a social media backlash, Galgotias University clarified that the robot dog was not built by the institution. The university explained that the machine was “recently acquired” and serves as a “classroom in motion” for students experimenting with artificial intelligence. “Let us be clear — Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed,” the university said in a statement on X.
The incident drew sharp reactions from India’s opposition, with the Congress party criticizing the government and the summit. “The Modi government has made a laughing stock of India globally, with regard to AI,” a post on X read. “This is truly embarrassing for India. Chinese robots are being displayed as our own.”
The Modi government has made a laughing stock of India globally, with regard to AI.
In the ongoing AI summit, Chinese robots are being displayed as our own. The Chinese media has mocked us. This is truly embarrassing for India.
What is even more shameful is the fact that… pic.twitter.com/xaRwm7j9Wv
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 18, 2026
— Galgotias University (@GalgotiasGU) February 17, 2026
The TV reporter who conducted the interview, Tapas Bhattachary, urged viewers to avoid generalizing from the incident. “If one out of hundreds of exhibitors wasn’t being upfront about their innovation, I would not give up on the entire India’s youth who are very innovative,” he said.
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The episode has raised questions about transparency in technology exhibitions and highlighted the importance of accurately representing research and development efforts in high-profile events. Despite the controversy, the summit continues to showcase global advances in artificial intelligence, drawing attention to India’s growing interest in the field.