Galgotias University professor Neha Singh recently became the subject of intense online debate after a robotic dog showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 was allegedly misrepresented as an in-house innovation developed by the university. The quadruped robot, introduced during a media interaction as “Orion,” was later identified by technology experts as the Unitree Go2 — a commercially available robotic platform manufactured by a Chinese robotics company.
As the controversy escalated across social media platforms, questions were raised regarding the authenticity of the claims made during the exhibition. Soon after the incident gained traction, Neha Singh reportedly updated her LinkedIn profile with an “Open to Work” status, sparking speculation about professional consequences arising from the negative publicity. The matter prompted an official apology from Galgotias University and drew attention from government authorities overseeing the summit, eventually resulting in the institution being asked to vacate its exhibition stall.
Who Is Neha Singh?
Neha Singh is a faculty member at Galgotias University, Greater Noida, who recently came under nationwide scrutiny following a controversy at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi between February 16 and 21.
She was one of the university’s representatives present at the institution’s exhibition pavilion during the global artificial intelligence summit. The event featured participation from more than 100 countries along with government officials, global technology leaders, and academic institutions showcasing their AI innovations and research work.
Her public appearance during a media interaction at the summit quickly went viral on social media platforms, placing her at the center of what later became known as the “Robo Dog controversy.”
Galgotias Professor Goes ‘Open To Work’ On LinkedIn After AI Summit RoboDog Mess
Soon after the controversy escalated online, Neha Singh reportedly updated her LinkedIn profile by enabling the “Open to Work” status. This development triggered widespread speculation that the incident may have had professional repercussions for her.
The change came amid increasing backlash directed toward both the university and its representatives after questions were raised regarding the authenticity of one of the robotic systems showcased at the Galgotias exhibition stall during the summit.
Her LinkedIn update was interpreted by many observers as an indication that she could be distancing herself from institutional responsibilities following the negative publicity generated by the episode.
About Unitree Go2
The Unitree Go2 is a commercially available quadruped robotic dog developed by Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics. It is part of the company’s next-generation consumer and research-oriented robotic platforms designed for AI-based mobility, automation, and smart inspection tasks.
Introduced as an upgrade over the earlier Unitree Go1, the Go2 integrates enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities, real-time terrain sensing, and autonomous navigation features. The robot is equipped with a 4D LiDAR system that enables it to scan its surroundings and avoid obstacles while moving across different environments with improved stability and balance.
Primarily used in robotics research, surveillance simulations, industrial inspection, and academic experimentation, the Unitree Go2 supports programmable development through SDK access. This allows universities, developers, and AI researchers to build customised applications such as autonomous patrolling, data collection, and object recognition.
The robotic platform is widely available in the global commercial market and is not an indigenously developed system by third-party institutions. Its modular architecture and AI integration make it suitable for demonstration purposes at technology exhibitions, research labs, and innovation showcases across multiple sectors.
What Triggered The RoboDog Controversy Controversy?
The controversy began when a quadruped robotic dog was displayed at Galgotias University’s pavilion during the AI Impact Expo segment of the summit. During an interview, the robot—introduced as “Orion”—was presented as being developed at the university’s Centre of Excellence.
However, technology enthusiasts and social media users soon identified the device as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic platform manufactured by Chinese company Unitree Robotics.
This revelation led to criticism that the institution had attempted to pass off a foreign-manufactured robotic product as an indigenous innovation. The situation became particularly sensitive because the summit was positioned as a platform to promote India’s domestic AI capabilities and technological self-reliance.
Following the backlash, authorities reportedly instructed Galgotias University to vacate its exhibition stall at the summit venue.
The incident quickly escalated into a public relations issue and sparked political reactions, with opposition leaders questioning the credibility of the summit and the claims being made by participating institutions.
Professor Issues Clarification
After the matter gained traction online, Neha Singh issued a clarification stating that she had not claimed the robotic dog was developed entirely in-house by the university.
According to her explanation, any misunderstanding may have resulted from a communication gap during media interaction at the event. Reports indicate that she later took accountability for the confusion caused by her remarks, although debates around institutional responsibility continued.
Her response formed part of a broader attempt by the university to manage the fallout and clarify its official stance regarding the showcased technology.
About Galgotias University
Galgotias University, located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, is a private higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in engineering, management, communication studies, and emerging technology domains including artificial intelligence.
The university regularly participates in industry expos, research exhibitions, and academic summits to present innovations developed by students and faculty members across its Centres of Excellence.
University’s Apology And Statement
As criticism intensified, Galgotias University issued an official apology acknowledging the confusion created by the demonstration of the robotic dog at the summit.
In its statement, the university described its representative as “ill-informed” and clarified that she had not been authorised to engage with the media regarding technical aspects of the project.
In a subsequent clarification, the administration attributed the incident to the presenter’s “enthusiasm of being on camera,” distancing the institution’s official research claims from the remarks made during the interaction.
Government’s Position
Government officials overseeing the summit reportedly took a firm view of the matter, emphasising that exhibitors were expected to present only original or institutionally developed innovations.
IT Secretary S. Krishnan stated that the government did not want participating organisations to showcase products that were not their own creations. Following this guideline, the university was directed to remove its stall from the exhibition area after the issue came to light.
The controversy also gained additional attention after a video of the robotic dog was initially shared on social media by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw before being deleted amid mounting criticism.
Final Conclusion
The RoboDog controversy at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 highlights the growing importance of transparency and technical accountability when presenting artificial intelligence and robotics innovations on international platforms. In an ecosystem where indigenous development and technological self-reliance are increasingly emphasised, any miscommunication or exaggeration regarding research outcomes can lead to reputational risks for both academic institutions and individual representatives.
While Neha Singh issued a clarification attributing the incident to a misunderstanding during media interaction, Galgotias University also acknowledged the lapse and distanced its official research claims from the remarks made at the summit. The government’s firm response further underscores the expectation that participating organisations must adhere strictly to authenticity standards when showcasing technological advancements.
Ultimately, the episode serves as a cautionary example for universities and research bodies to implement clear communication protocols and verification mechanisms before publicly presenting innovations at high-profile global events.
FAQs
Q1. Who is Neha Singh?
Neha Singh is a faculty member at Galgotias University who recently came into the spotlight after a robotic dog showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 triggered controversy.
Q2. What is the RoboDog controversy at the AI Summit?
The controversy began after a robotic dog displayed at Galgotias University’s stall was allegedly introduced as an in-house innovation during the summit.
Q3. Which robotic dog was showcased at the summit?
The robotic dog was later identified as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot developed by Unitree Robotics.
Q4. Why did Neha Singh update her LinkedIn profile?
Reports suggest she enabled the “Open to Work” status on LinkedIn after the controversy gained attention online.
Q5. What is Unitree Go2?
Unitree Go2 is an AI-powered robotic dog designed for research, inspection, and automation tasks.
Q6. Did Galgotias University develop the showcased robot?
The university later clarified that the robot was not entirely developed in-house.
Q7. Where was the AI Impact Summit 2026 held?
The summit took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Q8. Did Galgotias University issue any statement?
Yes, the university released an official apology acknowledging confusion during the media interaction.
Q9. Was the university asked to remove its stall?
Authorities reportedly directed the university to vacate its exhibition stall after the issue surfaced.
Q10. What was the government’s response to the incident?
Officials emphasised that only original or institutionally developed innovations should be showcased at such events.