Indian University Sparks Controversy at AI Summit for Presenting Chinese Robot as Its Own

Politics

Indian University Sparks Controversy at AI Summit for Presenting Chinese Robot as Its Own

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Indian University Sparks Controversy at AI Summit for Presenting Chinese Robot as Its Own

Credited from: BBC

Galgotias University presented a Chinese robot dog as its own at India's AI Summit.
The incident led to significant criticism and discussions about India's AI ambitions.
Social media users quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2 from China.
The university denies any wrongdoing and describes the backlash as propaganda.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was involved in amplifying the controversy.

An Indian university, Galgotias University, is under fire for allegedly presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own creation during the India AI Impact Summit. The issue arose after Professor Neha Singh claimed the robot, dubbed "Orion," was a product of their Centre of Excellence, which was subsequently proven incorrect as social media users identified it as the Unitree Go2, manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics for about $2,800, a fact widely recognized in educational settings globally, according to Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

This incident has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including India’s opposition party, Congress, which stated that the Modi government's missteps have made India a "laughing stock" on the international stage. "In the ongoing AI summit, Chinese robots are being displayed as our own," Congress emphasized, highlighting the embarrassment linked to the university's actions amidst a high-profile event attended by global leaders and tech moguls, according to Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.