An Indian university sparked controversy at the AI Summit in Delhi after an official appeared to claim that a Chinese-made robotic dog was its own creation.
The incident occurred when a professor from Galgotias University told state-run broadcaster DD News that the robot, named "Orion," had been "developed" at the university’s Centre of Excellence. A video clip of her statement quickly went viral on social media.
Online users soon identified the robot as the Go2 model, manufactured by the Chinese company Unitree Robotics, which is commercially available for around 200,000 rupees ($2,200; £1,600).
Responding to the controversy, Galgotias University issued a statement on Wednesday denying that it had claimed ownership of the robot and described the online backlash as a “propaganda campaign.”
The episode has sparked widespread discussion about verification of technological claims at conferences and the risks of misinformation in the rapidly growing AI sector.
