Amid the ongoing controversy over the display of a Chinese-made robotic dog at the India AI Summit Expo, Professor Neha Singh of Galgotias University on Wednesday said she had no information about any government directive asking the university to vacate its stall. The clarification came even as the Congress sharply criticised the Narendra Modi government over the ongoing AI summit, alleging that the event had turned into a “disorganised PR spectacle” and accusing the Centre of misrepresenting foreign technology as Indian innovation.
Responding to media reports suggesting that the university had been asked to clear its expo space, Singh said, “I do not have any information about that. What I know is that today we are all present here.”
Addressing the controversy over the robotic dog showcased at the summit, she acknowledged that there may have been a communication gap. “The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly. It was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do. Also, the intent may not have been properly understood,” she said.
Clarifying the university’s position, Singh added, “One important point regarding the robot dog is that we cannot claim that we manufactured it. I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own.”
She emphasised that the university remains focused on student learning and innovation in artificial intelligence. “Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing cutting-edge technologies in the field of AI, and it will continue to do so,” she said. The remarks come amid social media criticism and reports suggesting that the university had been asked to vacate its stall following the controversy.
In a post on X, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the summit had failed to leverage India’s strengths in talent and data. “Instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle — Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased,” Gandhi wrote.
Echoing his remarks, the Congress issued a strongly worded statement alleging that Chinese robots were being displayed at the summit as domestic innovations. “The Modi government has made a laughing stock of India globally, with regard to AI. In the ongoing AI summit, Chinese robots are being displayed as our own. The Chinese media has mocked us. This is truly embarrassing for India,” the party said.
The Congress further alleged that union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw was promoting Chinese robotic products at the summit. “What is even more shameful is the fact that Modi’s minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is indulging in the same falsehood, promoting China’s robots at the Indian summit,” the statement added.
The opposition party claimed the government had caused “irreparable damage” to India’s global image in the field of artificial intelligence. “They have reduced AI to a joke — a field in which we could be world leaders given our data power,” the Congress said, arguing that India’s vast digital public infrastructure and data ecosystem give it a natural advantage in emerging technologies.
