'In her enthusiasm of being on camera...': Galgotias admits professor gave 'incorrect information' at AI Summit

Galgotias University issued an apology on Wednesday following a controversy involving a robotic dog presented at the India AI Summit Expo in Delhi. The university acknowledged that a representative at its booth provided "factually incorrect information" while engaging with the media and was not authorized to speak on behalf of the institution. The apology came just hours after the Greater Noida-based university was instructed to vacate its stall due to rising concerns over the authenticity of the showcased robotic dog. Dr. N K Gaur, the registrar of the university, stated, "We sincerely apologize for the confusion caused at the recent AI Summit. One of our representatives was misinformed about the technical origins of the product and, in her eagerness to engage with the audience, shared inaccurate information despite lacking authorization to interact with the press." In light of the growing controversy, the university decided to leave the expo. Dr. Gaur emphasized that there was no intention to misrepresent any innovations, asserting the university's dedication to academic integrity and transparency. He stated, "We humbly ask for your understanding; there was no institutional intent to mislead regarding this innovation. Galgotias University is committed to presenting our work responsibly." The issue gained traction after the university displayed a robotic dog named "Orion," which was later identified as a Chinese-made Unitree Go2 rather than a product of in-house development. The university clarified that the robotic programming initiative is part of their efforts to equip students with AI programming skills and real-world applications using widely available tools and resources, emphasizing the urgent need to cultivate AI talent. Professor Neha Singh from Galgotias University also commented on the situation, explaining to PTI, "The misunderstanding arose from a lack of clarity in communication and misinterpretation of intent. We have never claimed to have manufactured the robotic dog. Our goal is to inspire students to innovate and develop their own creations. Our university is dedicated to nurturing future leaders by providing access to cutting-edge technologies in AI, and we will continue this mission."