The recent India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi was intended to be a celebration of indigenous technological advancement. However, it quickly became the center of a heated digital controversy involving Galgotias University. The institution found itself in the middle of a social media storm after displaying a robotic dog that they named "Orion." While the university presented the machine as part of its cutting-edge innovation, sharp-eyed observers on the internet were quick to identify the device.

It turns out that "Orion" was not a unique creation but a commercially available robot. The machine is allegedly the Go2 model manufactured by the Chinese technology firm Unitree. This specific model is readily available for purchase online, with a price tag ranging between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh.

The Spark of Controversy

The issue began when a video from the summit went viral. In the footage, a representative from the Delhi-based university—specifically from their Centre of Excellence—was seen showcasing the robot. The narrative presented to the audience and the media was that this was a homegrown innovation. Online commentators, however, were not convinced. They pointed out the unmistakable resemblance to the Chinese Unitree Go2 and accused the university of simply rebranding imported technology to pass it off as an Indian invention.

Facing a wave of mounting criticism on social media platforms, Galgotias University was forced to issue a clarification. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the administration insisted that they had never claimed to be the manufacturers of the robot. Instead, they argued that the device was procured from the Chinese firm solely as an educational aid to help students navigate the complexities of robotics and artificial intelligence.

Defending their position, the university stated: “The recently acquired robodog from Unitree is part of our commitment to providing students with the best learning resources. It is a means for experimentation, not a showcase of our own engineering. At no point have we stated otherwise,”

They went on to describe the robot conceptually, calling it “a classroom in motion” intended to push students to test technological boundaries.

Contradictions and Community Notes

Despite the university's attempt to smooth things over, the internet remained skeptical. An "X Community Note"—a feature that allows users to add context to misleading posts—was attached to the university’s statement. The note challenged the university's defense, asserting that the institution had, in fact, presented the robot as its own creation during the summit by renaming it "Orion" and attributing its development to their internal team.

The viral video served as primary evidence. It showed a woman explaining the robot's features and explicitly stating that "Orion" was developed internally. Critics argued that this was a clear case of misrepresenting imported hardware as indigenous work.

In response to the continued backlash, the university tried to shift the focus to its broader educational goals. They explained that their mission is to keep students aligned with global trends, which necessitates sourcing tools from innovation hubs in the United States, China, and Singapore.

“Innovation knows no borders, and learning should not either,” the university noted. They emphasized that their goal is to nurture future innovators who can build world-class solutions from India, rather than just putting imported devices on display.

Galgotias University Requested to Exit the AI Summit Exhibition Space

The fallout from the incident had immediate consequences. Reports surfaced suggesting that the Greater Noida-based institution was asked to vacate their spot at the expo. This followed the circulation of the video where representatives claimed the Chinese-made dog was a product of the university's Centre of Excellence.

The device in question, identified as the Unitree Go2, is a standard model sold by the Chinese robotics company Unitree. In India, it can be bought online for between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. Yet, at the summit, the machine was labeled "Orion."

The video that fueled the fire showed a woman, identified in various reports as a university representative, speaking to the media. She stated clearly that Galgotias University's Centre of Excellence had developed "Orion." To make matters worse, a separate clip featured a university professor making an identical claim, telling a reporter that the robot was built at the Centre of Excellence. This dual confirmation led social media users to accuse the university of dishonestly passing off foreign tech as an Indian innovation.

The University’s Defense

In an attempt to control the narrative, Galgotias University posted a statement on X. They reiterated that the robot was bought from Unitree for learning purposes. The statement read: “The recently acquired robodog from Unitree is one such step in that journey. It is not merely a machine on display; it is a classroom in motion. Our students are experimenting with it, testing its limits and, in the process, expanding their own knowledge. Let us be clear: Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we ever claimed to. Let us be clear - Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat.”

However, a later statement from the university labeled the criticism as a "propaganda campaign." This post also received a Community Note, which pointed out that the claim of never presenting the robot as their own was misleading, given the video evidence.

Confusion Among Representatives

As the pressure mounted, the narrative from the university staff began to waver. Neha, a communications professor at the university who had earlier claimed the robot was an innovation, attempted to clarify her stance.

“By one misinterpretation, the internet has gone by storm. It might be that I could not convey well what I had wanted to say, or you could not understand well what I wanted to say. I am a faculty member in communications at the School of Management, not in AI. Only you (the media) have heard what the government has said, as far as I know we are here at the expo. As a university, we are standing tall. The robot was brought here only for projection,” she said.

Regarding the reports that the university was asked to leave the summit, another faculty member, Professor Aishwarya Shrivastava, denied knowledge of such an order, stating, "As of now, we have no such information."Galgotias University Claims 'Negative Propaganda' Following Robot Controversy

In the hours between the night of February 17 and February 18, the narrative took another turn. Galgotias University adopted a defensive posture, claiming to be the victim of a "negative propaganda campaign." This came after significant backlash regarding the showcase of the Chinese robot dog as part of their indigenous AI ecosystem at the AI Impact Summit 2026.

However, a review of their own earlier statements, a video from DD India (which has since been deleted), and a press release distributed via NewsVoir suggests a contradiction between their current defense and their past actions.

The Shift to Denial

In their most recent press release, the university expressed distress over the situation. “We at Galgotias, faculty and students, are deeply pained by the propaganda campaign against our university,” the statement read. They argued that the initiative was simply about exposing students to AI using "globally available tools" and warned that spreading negativity would hurt student morale.

This followed an earlier clarification where they asserted, “Let us be clear Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed.” They insisted the Unitree robot was merely a learning tool. The issue, however, is that the public record—and the internet—tells a different story.

The Deleted Evidence

Before it was quietly removed, a video by DD India from the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam showed Professor Neha Singh explicitly stating that the robotic dog was developed by the university's "Centre of Excellence." Although the video was deleted, clips are still circulating widely on social media. The presentation clearly projected the robot not as a purchased educational tool, but as a part of the university's own development output.

The Rs 350 Crore Ecosystem and the "ORION" Brand

Adding to the confusion is the university's own press release via NewsVoir. Headlined "Galgotias University Pavilion Emerges as a Key Attraction at AI Impact Summit 2026 with Rs. 350+ Crore AI Showcase," the release boasted of a comprehensive AI ecosystem.

It highlighted a "major crowd puller" called "ORION, Operational Robotic Intelligence Node," which “interacted live with delegates and demonstrated applied robotics and intelligent systems integration”.

Essentially, the Chinese Unitree robot was rebranded as ORION and showcased as a key component of this massive investment. Reports indicate that the rebranding was so superficial that the original Unitree markings were potentially still visible on the robot.

Government Amplification

The situation became more embarrassing when government social media handles began sharing videos featuring the robot. This amplification gave official weight to the misleading impression that an Indian university had developed an advanced robotic platform.

The Drone Soccer Claim

The controversy was not limited to the robot dog. Professor Neha Singh also made claims regarding "drone soccer" while speaking to DD News.

“From its end to end engineering to its application, everything has happened at the university. And this is India’s first drone soccer arena which you will get to see on the Galgotias campus. Here, students play games inside this arena. They fly it, enhance their flying skills, and are developing it further in new ways, making it stronger and adding more enhanced features,” she claimed.

However, internet sleuths pointed out that the drone looks strikingly similar to the "Striker V3 ARF" soccer drone sold by Skyball, a product used in drone games and available for approximately US$453.

Conclusion

The heart of this controversy is not about students using global technology; that is a standard and necessary practice in education. The issue lies in the projection. At a major international summit, imported products were renamed, attributed to an internal Centre of Excellence, and showcased under the banner of a Rs 350+ crore ecosystem. When this narrative collapsed under scrutiny, the university shifted to denial and allegations of propaganda, a move that many find difficult to accept given the documented evidence.