China robodog row erupts at India AI Summit over 'indigenous' branding
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A viral video from Delhi's India AI Impact Summit has ignited backlash after a Chinese Unitree Go2 robodog—priced at Rs 2-3 lakh—was allegedly presented as an in-house innovation named "Orion."
In clips on X, a representative described it as developed by Galgotias University's Greater Noida Centre of Excellence, drawing accusations of passing off imported tech as homegrown amid India's AI push.
The university issued a statement denying claims of building the commercially available AI quadruped, stating it was procured from Unitree Robotics for teaching and research: " Let us be clear: we have not built this robodog, nor have we ever claimed to."
It emphasised hands-on exposure to global tech from the US, China, and Singapore, unbound by geography. However, an X community note called the denial "incorrect and misleading," citing a media interaction where "Orion" was explicitly credited to the university team.
The controversy has fueled discussions on academic honesty at high-profile events, with critics arguing rebranding without origin disclosure misleads on indigenous progress. The university defended sourcing cutting-edge tools for student experimentation, not ownership claims.