Power disconnected at Galgotias University stall after China-made robodog row; staff vacate AI Summit expo

Galgotias University staff vacated their stall at the India AI Impact Summit Expo on Wednesday after organisers directed them to shut it down following a controversy over the display of a Chinese-made Unitree robodog. A security guard at the venue said his supervisor had informed him that the stall was being closed and that the lights “might have been switched off by the electricity department.”

Sources said the government had asked the university to vacate the stall after the episode drew criticism, with some calling it a “national embarrassment.”

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The development followed a viral video in which a university faculty member was seen explaining the robot at the expo, triggering allegations that the Chinese-manufactured device had been presented as the institution’s own.

Also Read: Galgotias University asked to vacate AI Summit stall after China-made robodog row; professors cite ‘misinterpretation’

Professors say robot was brought for study, not ownership claim

Speaking to IANS, Professor Neha Singh said the controversy stemmed from miscommunication while she was describing the robot’s features.

“I was explaining what the robot can do, its features, and all related details. Somewhere along the way, the message got slightly digressed, and later, many things became controversial. The purpose was for students to study the robot and further develop it, contributing to a stronger and more Viksit Bharat. That was our full intention,” she said.

She added that the robot had been brought from the lab as part of a research and learning exercise.

“We have taken that robot for studying it and doing research. It was in the lab, and it was brought here for projection,” she said, expressing regret that the incident occurred at a summit meant to showcase student work.

Professor Singh acknowledged that the issue had been “misinterpreted” but said she did not believe it would harm the university’s long-standing reputation.

Also Read: ‘Truly embarrassing’: Congress slams Centre, calls AI Impact Summit ‘disorganised PR spectacle’

‘Matter blown out of proportion’, says faculty

Professor Aishwarya Srivastava also told IANS that the university regretted the way the episode had unfolded.

“We have regret that it has been miscommunicated. We came here to showcase the work of our students, and we are not in any way trying to tarnish India’s image. Our university aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision and mission. We are working towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” she said.

Srivastava clarified that the university was not issuing an apology but acknowledged that the matter had been misunderstood.

“Not apology. We acknowledge that the matter was slightly misleading and misinterpreted. A small issue was blown out of proportion on social media, though we never had any such intention,” she said.

Summit backdrop

The India AI Impact Summit, being held at Bharat Mandapam, is a five-day programme bringing together global leaders, policymakers and technology companies under the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India initiative.

The robodog episode has become an unexpected controversy at an event positioned as a platform for showcasing India’s artificial intelligence ambitions.