Was the ‘Orion’ robotic dog shown at the AI Impact Summit 2026 really a homegrown innovation, or was the Chinese model Unitree Go2 presented with a new name? The Galgotia controversy has raised big questions on plagiarism, transparency and government surveillance.
AI Impact Summit 202 Galgotias University Controversy: There was a stir at the AI Impact Summit 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam when questions were raised on the robotic dog ‘Orion’ displayed by Galgotias University. People on social media claimed that this is not a new Indian discovery, but the already sold model Go2 of Chinese company Unitary Robotics. The matter escalated so much that the government had to intervene and the university was asked to vacate its stall. This controversy is no longer limited to just one robot, but is raising big questions like AI innovation, plagiarism, academic honesty and government accountability. What is the truth after all? Was it just a misunderstanding or something else?
What is the first reaction of the government?
In its first reaction to the controversy over Galgotias University’s robotic dog display at the AI Impact Summit 2026, the government said misinformation cannot be promoted and asked the university not to pass judgment on its claims, but to vacate its stall to prevent “controversy” around the exhibits.
Was ‘Orion’ really an indigenous innovation?
The university displayed a robotic dog named Orion, claiming it was developed by its center of excellence, but the display drew severe criticism online after users alleged that the machine looked too similar to the commercially available Uniti Go2 made by Uniti Robotics. As the protest escalated, organizers cut off the power supply to the university’s stall at Bharat Mandapam and asked its representatives to leave.
Why did the government remove the stall?
S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, clearly said that the summit should see “real and real work”. He said that the government is not getting involved in any technical investigation, but any kind of dispute or wrong information will not be tolerated. He also clarified that this summit is not a “certification platform”. This means that the products shown here are not tested by the government beforehand.
Was this just ‘misinformation’ or a big mistake?
After the criticism, Galgotias University apologized and said that the person present in the pavilion did not have the correct information and spoke to the media without permission. The university said there was “no intention to misrepresent.” But can such a mistake in such a big technology summit be called just a ‘misunderstanding’?
Why did the opposition target?
Opposition leaders described the issue as serious and termed it as “shameful” to portray a commercially available Chinese robot as an in-house invention. Communist Party of India Marxist Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas alleged that Galgotias University has the “support and patronage of top BJP leaders”. From Dr. Sambit Patra to Union Minister Piyush Goyal, everyone has participated in various programs of the university. It is not surprising that this institution often emphasizes the slogan of ‘Developed India’.” Shiv Sena UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi described the incident as “shameful”. Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale questioned the silence of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav. At present, this matter has been calmed down, but the questions raised behind it are still echoing.