A major controversy has rocked the India AI Impact Summit after a Chinese-made robotic dog was passed off as an Indian innovation, prompting sharp criticism from Union Minister Chirag Paswan. He branded it ‘major negligence’ and promised government intervention post-summit.
At Galgotias University’s pavilion, the Unitree Go2 was billed as a product from their elite Center of Excellence. Exposure revealed its true Chinese origins from Unitree Robotics.
In a press interaction, Paswan condemned the misrepresentation outright. ‘Claiming someone else’s product as your own at a global forum is wrong on every level,’ he asserted. With international eyes on the event, the fallout could harm India’s standing.
Paswan highlighted the representative’s evasive language in describing the robodog, which shifted to a ‘misunderstanding’ narrative. Amid a national AI showcase, this lapse is indefensible.
The Centre’s position is clear: platforms like these must feature only authentic work, with no room for falsehoods.
Professor Neha Singh from the university’s communications wing ignited the fire by declaring the ‘Orion’ robodog as their development during an interview. A quick backtrack cited communication failure.
Issuing a formal apology, the university took responsibility, explaining the individual’s limited technical insight and lack of media permission.
This episode underscores the challenges in India’s tech narrative, urging robust checks to bolster genuine innovation over hype.