An Indian university has reportedly been asked to vacate its stall at the India AI Impact Summit after showcasing a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own innovation.
The controversy began when a university staff member introduced the robot, named Orion, during a media presentation as a creation developed by the institution’s Centre of Excellence. However, online observers quickly identified the machine as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robot manufactured in China and widely used in education and research worldwide.
The incident gained further attention after India’s IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared the presentation video on social media before later removing the post amid criticism.
Following the backlash, both the university and the staff member clarified that the robot was not developed in-house and stated that no such claim had been officially made.
The episode has drawn criticism from political opponents and sparked debate about credibility and originality in India’s growing AI ecosystem.
Despite the controversy, the summit in New Delhi continues to host global technology leaders including Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei, while also announcing more than $100 billion in AI-related investments from major corporations.
The event has also faced logistical challenges, with some attendees reporting overcrowding and organisational issues since its opening.
