Galgotias University has been asked to vacate the Delhi AI Summit expo venue immediately, government sources said on Wednesday, amid the controversy over the display of a Chinese-made robotic dog at the ongoing event in the national capital.
The development comes a day after the university issued a clarification stating that the robotic dog showcased at the summit was procured from China-based Unitree and that it had “never claimed" to have built the device.
The institution had faced criticism after reports suggested that the Unitree Go2 robotic dog was displayed under the name “Orion", prompting allegations that imported technology was being presented as indigenously developed.
In its earlier statement, the university had said, “Let us be clear, Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed to do so. What we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer and manufacture such technologies in Bharat." It also maintained that the device was acquired for academic purposes and used as a learning tool for students.
The controversy triggered a social media backlash, with several users accusing the institution of misrepresenting the origin of the AI-powered robotic dog. Responding to the criticism, Galgotias University had said it routinely brings global technologies to campus to expose students to cutting-edge innovation and that its focus remains on fostering indigenous capabilities in the long run.
Government sources, however, indicated that following the episode, the university has now been directed to vacate the AI Summit expo space. The AI Impact Summit, which brings together policymakers, industry leaders and innovators, continues at Bharat Mandapam under heightened scrutiny.
