AI Impact Summit 2026: The AI Impact Summit, currently the hottest event in India, took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall at the AI Summit Expo in Bharat Mandapam. Government sources say this happened after a robotic dog, showcased as an in-house innovation, was identified as a commercially available Chinese product. The robot, presented as “Orion,” was quickly identified as the Unitree Go2 from China. The incident sparked a major controversy at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, inaugurated by PM Modi.
The robotic dog displayed at the university’s stall was identified as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot sold in India for around ₹2–3 lakh. Critics pointed out that the robot was presented at the summit as a product developed by the university, when in fact it is a commercial product from China. The incident has raised questions about showcasing imported technology at a national AI event designed to highlight domestic innovation.
Following increased scrutiny, the power supply to the Galgotias University booth at the AI Summit was reportedly disconnected after they were requested to leave the exhibition. The emphasis on India's AI ambitions at the summit was eclipsed when attendees recognized the robot as the Unitree Go2, a model available from the Chinese robotics firm Unitree.
The controversy erupted after a video of a Galgotias University presenter talking to DD News went viral. In the clip from the AI Summit, university staff are seen clearly stating that the robotic dog was developed in-house at Galgotias University.
Professor Neha Singh, while presenting the robot earlier, told DD News,
"We are the first private university investing more than 350 crore rupees in artificial intelligence and we have a dedicated data science and artificial intelligence block on the campus. So Orion has been developed by the Center of Excellences and as you can see, it can take all shapes and sizes."
The controversy drew sharp reactions online. The Congress said on X: "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 Modi's minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is indulging in the same falsehood, promoting China's robots at the Indian summit."
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called the summit a "disorganised PR spectacle." In a post on X, he wrote, "Instead of leveraging India's talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle — Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased."
In the first statement, Galgotias University said it had not built or claimed to have built the robotic dog and emphasised its focus on student learning through exposure to advanced global technologies. In a later statement, the university said concerns about "propaganda" against the university were misplaced.
Professor Neha Singh, who was representing the university, said the controversy stemmed from unclear communication. "I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly, as it was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do. I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own. Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing cutting-edge technologies in the field of Al, and it will continue to do so."