A professor from Galgotias University has landed at the centre of a nationwide social media storm after a robotic dog showcased as an “indigenous innovation” turned out to be a commercially available Chinese product.
The incident took place during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi, where the robodog—introduced as Orion—was presented as a high-end surveillance solution developed by the university and linked to a massive ₹350-crore institutional investment.
However, the claim quickly triggered backlash from India’s tech community.
What sparked the controversy?
Online users were quick to point out that the robot strongly resembled the Unitree Robotics Unitree Go2, a mass-produced quadruped robot that is openly sold for commercial use at a price of around ₹2.5 lakh.
Adding to the embarrassment, the original Chinese branding was still visible during the presentation.
This led to sharp criticism and renewed scrutiny of Galgotias University’s AI initiatives—along with questions about the academic profile and role of the professor who made the claims.
Who is Neha Singh?
The identity and credentials of Neha Singh remain unclear, with multiple and conflicting profiles surfacing:
- She told news agencies she is a faculty member in communications at the School of Management.
- The university’s faculty portal lists a Neha Singh as an Assistant Professor in the School of Law.
- A ResearchGate profile describes a Neha Singh as an Assistant Professor, research scholar and PhD in Pharmacy at the university.
- An unverified LinkedIn account shows a Neha Singh working as an educator and researcher in mesh generation, associated with Galgotias from August 2023 to June 2025.
Because of these discrepancies, it is still difficult to confirm which profile—if any—is authentic.
Neha Singh has defended herself by calling the episode a “communication issue,” saying she may not have sounded “eloquent,” even though she was heard stating that the technology was “developed by the Centre of Excellence” at the university.
Not the first viral moment for the university
This is not the first time Galgotias University has gone viral for the wrong reasons.
In 2024, videos from a student protest in New Delhi drew widespread attention after several participants:
- Mispronounced “urban naxalism” as “urban maxwell”
- Struggled to explain the issues they were protesting about
- Could not read or interpret their own placards
- Fumbled when asked about topics like inheritance tax and political manifestos
The latest robodog controversy has once again pushed the Noida-based institution into the national spotlight.
Why this story is blowing up
The issue has struck a nerve for two key reasons:
- Claims of indigenous AI innovation—a sensitive and high-profile topic in India’s tech ecosystem
- Questions about academic credibility and institutional transparency
As the debate rages online, the focus remains on one central question:
Was it a genuine communication lapse—or a serious case of misrepresentation?
