What Is Galgotias? Location, Fame, Key Alumni As Robodog Fiasco Boots University From Delhi AI Summit

Last Updated:February 18, 2026, 12:27 IST

Many claimed that the device looked exactly like the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic dog made by a Chinese company.

Big technology events are often seen as a stage to show what the future looks like. Universities, startups and companies bring their latest ideas in a hope to impress experts and policymakers. That is what happened at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi where Galgotias University found itself in the middle of a debate.

Government sources said on Wednesday, February 18, that the university had been asked to vacate the expo venue immediately. The move came after questions were raised about a robotic dog displayed at the summit.

What Sparked Galgotias University’s Robotic Dog Controversy?

The issue began when a robotic dog named “ORION" was presented at the summit. A video showed a faculty member demonstrating the robot which caught widespread attention online. Soon after, social media users claimed that the device looked exactly like the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic dog made by a Chinese company.

This led to accusations that the university was presenting an imported product as its own innovation. The controversy grew because the display was linked to the university’s larger Rs 350 crore AI ecosystem investment.

What Sparked Galgotias University’s Robotic Dog Controversy?

The issue began when a robotic dog named “ORION" was presented at the summit. A video showed a faculty member demonstrating the robot which caught widespread attention online. Soon after, social media users claimed that the device looked exactly like the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic dog made by a Chinese company.

This led to accusations that the university was presenting an imported product as its own innovation. The controversy grew because the display was linked to the university’s larger Rs 350 crore AI ecosystem investment.

How Did The University Respond?

As the debate picked up pace online, the university issued a clarification. It said that it had never “claimed" to have built the robotic dog. According to the statement, the device was purchased from China-based Unitree for academic purposes and student learning.

“The recently acquired robodog from Unitree is one such step in that journey. It is not merely a machine on display; it is a classroom in motion. Our students are experimenting with it, testing its limits and, in the process, expanding their own knowledge. Let us be clear: Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we ever claimed to. Let us be clear – Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat," the statement read which was shared by the university’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

What Were The Broader Criticisms?

The controversy did not remain limited to just the robot. Critics began questioning how projects are selected for display at national-level technology events. Concerns about whether imported, off-the-shelf products should be showed at such summits were also raised.

The debate also extended to government-backed innovation funding and patent support.

What Is Galgotias University’s AI Ecosystem Investment?

At the centre of the discussion is the university’s announcement of investing over Rs 350 crore in building an AI ecosystem. This has been described as the largest investment of its kind by a private university in India.

The investment was made with an aim to create strong infrastructure for AI education, research and real-world applications.

What Are The Core Infrastructure And Key Components Of University’s AI Push?

A high-end computing setup powered by NVIDIA’s DGX H200 supercomputing platform is the major part of its AI push. It is designed to handle large-scale AI model training across areas like data science, machine learning and computer vision.

The campus also houses Centres of Excellence focused on applied research, patents and startup support. Students and researchers are given access to high-performance computing tools for interdisciplinary projects. The curriculum is reportedly aligned with industry needs and supported by enterprise-level technology.

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