A viral video claiming a breakthrough in Indian robotics quickly backfired when social media users recognized the machine as a commercial Unitree model.
Galgotias University has found itself at the center of a major technology scandal during a flagship artificial intelligence summit in Delhi. The controversy ignited when a university professor proudly introduced “Orion,” a supposedly indigenous robotic dog, to a national television audience, claiming it was the fruit of the institution’s cutting-edge research.
However, the celebration was short-lived. Tech enthusiasts online immediately identified the machine not as a homegrown marvel, but as the Go2 model produced by Chinese manufacturer Unitree Robotics. The base model of this robotic quadruped is readily available to global consumers for a fraction of the cost of traditional industrial robots.
Damage Control Efforts
Faced with a barrage of criticism for allegedly rebranding foreign technology, the university went on the defensive. In a formal statement, officials categorically denied claiming they built the hardware.
We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop and deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources.
The faculty member captured in the viral clip also attempted to clarify her televised remarks, telling reporters that the situation resulted from a miscommunication rather than intentional fraud. Despite these explanations, the fallout was swift. News agency PTI reported that the university’s stall at the summit was plunged into darkness after organizers cut the power supply, effectively shutting down their exhibition.
The India AI Impact Summit, attended by industry titans like Google’s Sundar Pichai, has sought to position the nation as a premier hub for AI innovation—making the faux pas a particularly poorly timed distraction.
SOURCES: X (formerly Twitter), Press Trust of India, Galgotias University Official Statements.
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