A storm has erupted at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 over Chinese robodogs masquerading as homegrown tech. Galgotias University drew sharp criticism for touting Unitree’s ‘Go2’ as its ‘Orion’ creation, but Wipro Limited, which also demoed a similar bot, is pushing back against comparisons.
‘Wipro is a software company through and through,’ sources clarified Wednesday. ‘We don’t manufacture hardware and never pretended to.’ Unlike the university’s bold claims, Wipro’s presentation focused on AI software capabilities for the ‘TJ’ robodog, deployable in perilous environments replacing human risk.
The controversy gained traction when media grilled Wipro reps on the robot’s origins. Revelations that it’s Chinese-made prompted Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to intervene: ‘Irregularities at the AI expo have been addressed promptly,’ he assured. ‘Let’s celebrate the genuine breakthroughs too.’
Galgotias maintains the fuss is overblown, aligning its demo with national AI goals. However, reports suggest their stall faces dismantling orders, which reps deny receiving. The opposition pounced, slamming the government for allowing such ‘deceptive practices’ at a flagship event.
This saga highlights tensions in India’s quest for AI self-reliance. While Wipro escapes direct blame by owning its software role, the university’s misstep has amplified calls for stricter vetting. As the dust settles, stakeholders must ensure future summits spotlight true innovation, not imported illusions.