In New Delhi, India, a private educational institution, Galgotias University, faced significant backlash after being removed from a prominent artificial intelligence summit due to misrepresentation of a technology exhibit. On February 17, 2026, a staff member from the university showcased a robotic dog, which was actually a commercially available model named Orion, produced by China's Unitree Robotics. The incident unfolded when Neha Singh, a professor at Galgotias, stated in a media interview that the robotic dog was developed by their Centre of Excellence, which drew immediate scrutiny from internet users who identified it as the Unitree Go2 robot, retailing at a starting price of $1,600. Reports suggest that this incident was perceived as an embarrassment for India, especially in the context of its efforts to establish itself as a leading hub for artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. The summit, which began on February 15, 2026, was a high-profile event attended by global leaders and tech executives, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, aiming to highlight India’s potential in technological innovation. In a response to the growing criticism, Galgotias University released a statement expressing their pain over the incident and labelled it as a propaganda campaign that could potentially undermine the enthusiasm of their students involved in technology development. On February 18, 2026, the university issued another statement apologizing for the confusion, clarifying that Singh was not authorized to speak on behalf of the institution and was misinformed about the origins of the robotic dog. This clarification came amid the fallout from the summit where organizational issues, including thefts from exhibitors, further marred the event’s reputation. Ultimately, this episode has raised questions about credibility and ethical representation in the burgeoning AI sector in India as the country seeks to attract investments and position itself as a technology leader on the global stage. Such incidents not only affect institutional reputations but also the broader narrative of innovation in a competitive landscape where India aims to exert its influence in advanced technologies.