Robodog Row Hits Galgotias

AI Summit demo sparks backlash over imported tech claim

February 18, 2026: Galgotias University has come under intense scrutiny after a presentation at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 triggered a social media storm. A viral video showed a university representative unveiling a robotic dog named “Orion” as part of campus-led innovation. Online users quickly identified the machine as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robot manufactured in China, raising allegations that imported technology was being presented as an in-house creation.

The controversy escalated after Professor Neha Singh introduced the device under the university’s “Centre of Excellence,” referencing a Rs 350 crore investment and describing it as a rugged-terrain surveillance system. However, visible Unitree branding on the robot contradicted implications of indigenous development. Tech experts noted that the Unitree Go2 is a mass-produced model retailing at around ₹2.5 lakh, prompting criticism that the institution had rebranded an off-the-shelf product at a high-profile, government-backed event. Organisers reportedly asked the university to vacate its exhibition stall on February 18, 2026.

Amid mounting backlash, the university issued a clarification stating it had “never claimed to have built” the robotic dog and that it was procured purely as a teaching tool to expose students to advanced global technologies. While Professor Singh, who previously taught at Presidency University Bangalore and COER Roorkee and earned her PhD from BITS Pilani Hyderabad, holds strong academic credentials, the episode has reignited debate around transparency, accountability, and the line between demonstration and misrepresentation in academic tech showcases.