After robot dog storm, Galgotias University vacates AI Impact Summit pavilion
The directive follows a backlash over the university’s showcase of a quadruped robot that had emerged as a major crowd-puller at the summit
In the wake of the robot dog controversy at the India AI Impact Summit, Galgotias University has vacated its exhibition space after being directed to do so.
The directive followed a backlash over the university’s showcase of a quadruped robot that had emerged as a major crowd-puller at the summit. Videos of the four-legged machine greeting visitors and performing mobility demonstrations went viral, drawing attention as one of the event’s showstopper exhibits.
The narrative, however, soon turned contentious after tech observers alleged that the robot was a commercially available unit developed by Chinese robotics firm Unitree, and not an indigenous innovation. Social media posts accused the university of projecting the machine as its own technological achievement, triggering a row over ownership claims.
Also read: Showstopper Chinese robot dog triggers row over ownership
The controversy also evoked political reactions, with the Opposition Congress accusing Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw of promoting China's robots at the Indian summit.
Galgotias University, however, denied any misrepresentation, stating it had clearly identified the robot as a Unitree platform and displayed it only to demonstrate applied robotics and AI integration capabilities.
