Galgotias University presents Chinese robodog at AI Summit, clarifies after backlash - 'we never claimed'

• Galgotias University denies building the showcased robotic dog.
• The robot was bought from a Chinese company for demonstration use
• University highlighted Rs 350 crore AI investment at the summit

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A video from the ongoing AI Impact Summit in Delhi has sparked controversy after allegations surfaced that Galgotias University in Greater Noida presented Chinese technology as its own. However, the university has denied the claims and clarified that it never said it had built the robotic dog showcased at the event.

The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows representatives from Galgotias University demonstrating a robotic dog at their stall during the summit.

In the clip, presenters are heard saying that the robotic dog regularly moves around their campus and can be used for several purposes, including surveillance. They also mention that the robot can take photographs from narrow spaces and areas that are difficult to access.

Soon after the video circulated online, several media outlets, including those covering Chinese and Eurasian affairs, questioned the university’s claims. Reports alleged that Galgotias University falsely projected the robotic dog as an in-house innovation as part of a Rs 350 crore-plus artificial intelligence investment display.

They further claimed that the robot shown at the summit closely resembled the Unitree Go2, a robotic dog manufactured by Unitree Robotics, a China-based company. The Unitree Go2 is a commercially available, mass-produced robot that can be purchased on global online platforms for around USD 2,800, or roughly Rs 2.3 lakh.

In response to the allegations, Galgotias University issued a clarification, denying that it had claimed to develop the robotic dog. The university said the robot was acquired from a global robotics company based in China and is being used purely as a learning and demonstration tool for students.

“Let us be clear. Galgotias has not built this robotic dog, nor have we claimed to do so. Our focus is on building young minds that will soon design, engineer and manufacture such technologies in India,” the university said in its statement.

The Galgotias University stall was among the most visited exhibits at the AI Impact Summit. The display highlighted the university’s planned investment of over Rs 350 crore to build a sustainable artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Apart from the robotic dog, the university showcased several AI-based startups incubated under the Galgotias Incubation Centre, GICRISE, as well as applications developed at its iOS Development Centre.