Indian Uni Sparks AI Summit Drama Over 'Own' Chinese Robodog Claim

Galgotias University in India has found itself at the center of a controversy during the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The issue began when a professor from the university claimed on a state-run news channel that a robotic dog named 'Orion' was developed at their Centre of Excellence. However, online users quickly identified the robot as the Go2 model, which is actually made by the Chinese company Unitree Robotics and is available for purchase by anyone. The robot costs about 200,000 rupees and is not unique to the university. The professor's comments were captured in a video that spread widely on social media, leading to accusations that the university was being dishonest about the origins of the robot.

In response to the backlash, Galgotias University released a statement denying that they had claimed to invent the robot. They explained that their students were learning to program robots and use artificial intelligence with tools that are available globally. The university said that teaching students AI skills is important for the future. The professor, Neha Singh, later clarified that her remarks had been misunderstood, saying that she might not have explained herself clearly or that people might not have understood her correctly. Despite these explanations, many social media users continued to criticize the university for misleading the public.

Reports indicated that the university was asked to leave its stall at the summit after the controversy. Faculty members said they had not received any official notice, but later the electricity at their stall was cut off. A BBC reporter at the event observed that the lights were off and no university staff were present. The incident was seen as embarrassing for the summit organizers, especially since the video had been shared on the IT Minister's official social media account before being deleted. India's IT Secretary S Krishnan commented that the controversy should not overshadow the work of other participants and emphasized the importance of following proper conduct at such events.

The India AI Impact Summit, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is intended to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Delegates from over 100 countries, including government leaders and industry experts like Sundar Pichai from Google, are attending the summit. The event features discussions on AI policy, showcases of startups, and meetings about AI governance and innovation. The opening day was marked by overcrowding and confusion, but organizers have since improved the arrangements. The summit is now bustling with visitors from across India, and officials hope that the event will encourage the adoption of AI throughout the country.