Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi after controversy erupted over a robotic dog displayed at its booth. The robot was presented as an innovation developed by the university, but visitors and experts soon identified it as a commercially available Chinese made model.
The robot, reportedly branded by the university as “Orion” was claimed to be a student developed project. However, social media users and technology enthusiasts quickly pointed out that it closely resembled a widely sold robot manufactured by a Chinese robotics company. Images and videos from the stall went viral, triggering questions about the authenticity of the exhibit.
Following the backlash, summit organizers and officials directed Galgotias University to remove its stall from the exhibition area. Sources said the move was taken to maintain credibility and ensure that only genuine, home-grown innovations were showcased at the national level technology event.
In response, the university released a statement saying it was “deeply pained” by the controversy. It claimed that some of its representatives at the stall were not fully aware of the robot’s origin and that there was no intention to misrepresent it as an original creation. The institution later clarified that the robot was being used as a teaching and demonstration tool for students, not as a proprietary invention.
The incident sparked a wider debate on academic integrity and transparency in technology exhibitions. Experts stressed that educational institutions must clearly distinguish between imported technology used for learning and original research or innovation developed on campus.
Government officials and summit organizers reiterated that exhibitors should only present projects they have genuinely developed, especially at high profile events meant to promote indigenous innovation and technological self reliance.
The episode overshadowed parts of the summit’s agenda and raised concerns about due diligence in vetting exhibits at major national technology forums.
