Galgotias University Faces Online Backlash Over Controversial Ads Post AI Summit Incident
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New Delhi, April 8 (NationPress) On Wednesday, Galgotias University became the focus of a social media uproar after it published full-page ads in prominent Indian newspapers asserting its global prominence. The ads, branding the institution as 'ranked globally' and 'dedicated to making India proud', ignited a storm of online backlash, with users inundating social platforms with memes and sarcastic comments.
Many individuals challenged the legitimacy of these assertions, particularly following a viral episode at the India AI Summit that had already raised eyebrows regarding the university. Social media users swiftly ridiculed the marketing initiative, with one user humorously claiming that the 'two top universities' were 'WhatsApp University and Galgotias University'.
Others adopted a more critical stance, suggesting that the university's reputation was at risk, with comments highlighting that people 'laugh when they hear the name' and that parents would 'think twice before enrolling their children'.
Numerous posts further mockingly connected the university's academic emphasis to trending memes, intensifying the criticism.
This backlash followed an incident at the summit held at Bharat Mandapam, where the university was instructed to vacate its stall due to allegations that a robotic dog showcased as an in-house innovation was, in fact, a commercially available product.
Observers identified the robot, presented as 'Orion', as the Unitree Go2, manufactured by the Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics.
Critics contended that presenting an imported item as a domestic innovation at a premier national AI event raised significant concerns regarding transparency and trustworthiness.
In response to the scrutiny, officials reportedly cut power to the university's exhibition space after requesting its departure.
During a discussion with DD News at the AI Summit, Professor Neha Singh characterized the robot as a product of the university's AI investments, asserting that it could execute surveillance and monitoring functions and was developed internally.