NEW DELHI — A private Indian university has been removed from a prominent artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi after presenting a commercially available robotic dog manufactured in China as its own innovation. The incident, which unfolded on Wednesday, has caused embarrassment for the host country as it seeks to establish itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
Galgotias University was ordered to dismantle its stand at the India AI Impact Summit a day after Neha Singh, the university’s professor of communications, told state-run broadcaster DD News that the robotic dog, named Orion, was developed by the Centre of Excellence at the university, according to two government officials.
Online users quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, a model sold by Chinese firm Unitree Robotics for around $1,600 and widely used in research and educational settings. The revelation sparked criticism, with accusations that the university was attempting to portray imported technology as an indigenous product at an event intended to showcase India’s technological ambitions.
Singh subsequently told reporters on Wednesday that she had not explicitly claimed the dog was the university’s own creation, but rather that it was an exhibit. However, this explanation did little to quell the controversy.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for India, which is actively courting investment in its AI sector and striving to position itself as a leader in technological innovation. The summit, which opened on Monday, is attended by at least 20 heads of state and governments, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, underscoring the event’s international significance. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a session on Thursday.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Galgotias University expressed being “deeply pained” by the situation, characterizing it as a “propaganda campaign” intended to undermine the morale of students working to develop their skills using global technologies. A subsequent statement issued on Wednesday offered an apology for the confusion, stating that Singh, the university representative at the summit, was not authorized to speak to the media and was “ill-informed.” The university explained that Singh was unaware of the robot’s origins and, in her eagerness to speak on camera, provided inaccurate information.
It remains unclear whether the university has fully removed its booth from the summit grounds. However, the episode highlights the challenges India faces in balancing its aspirations for technological self-reliance with the realities of global collaboration and the potential for misrepresentation.
The India AI Impact Summit has not been without other logistical issues. Several exhibitors reportedly experienced organizational hiccups, including long lines, and delays. Some exhibitors also took to social media to complain about the theft of personal belongings and products on display, though organizers later stated that the stolen items were recovered and returned.
The summit is also drawing participation from key figures in the technology industry, including Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and AMI Labs Executive Chairman Yann LeCun. Their presence underscores the growing global interest in India’s potential as an AI powerhouse, even as incidents like the one involving Galgotias University raise questions about transparency and the authenticity of claims made within the sector.
The incident at the summit is likely to prompt greater scrutiny of claims made by Indian institutions regarding indigenous technological development, particularly in strategically important fields like artificial intelligence. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of due diligence and accurate representation in the pursuit of national technological ambitions.
