Galgotias University stirred controversy by running full-page ads in top Indian newspapers boasting of global rankings and a commitment to elevating India’s stature. The move sparked a wave of online backlash, with users flooding social media platforms with memes and critical comments. Doubts about the university’s credibility were raised, especially following a previous incident at the India AI summit that had cast doubt on its reputation.
Social media users derided the campaign, with one user humorously likening the top universities to “WhatsApp University and Galgotia University.” Criticism mounted, with comments hinting at potential damage to the university’s reputation, suggesting that people mock the institution and parents may hesitate to enroll their children there. The backlash intensified as posts sarcastically connected the university’s academic pursuits to memes, fueling the negative sentiment further.
The uproar stemmed from an incident at the Bharat Mandapam summit, where Galgotias University faced scrutiny and was asked to leave its stall. Allegations surfaced that a robotic dog showcased as an in-house innovation was actually a commercially available product, identified as the Unitree Go2 developed by Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics. Critics raised concerns about transparency and credibility, highlighting the risks of misrepresenting an imported product as indigenous innovation at a prestigious national AI event.
Amid the scrutiny, officials reportedly shut down power to the university’s pavilion and requested its exit from the expo. Professor Neha Singh, speaking at the AI Summit to DD News, had earlier touted the robot, named “Orion,” as a result of the university’s AI investments, claiming it could undertake surveillance and monitoring tasks and was developed internally.
