Who is Neha Singh, Galgotias University Professor seen introducing Chinese RoboDog as ‘Orion’ at the Delhi AI Summit?
Who is Neha Singh?
Neha Singh is the Head of the Department of Communication, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Galgotias. Singh emerged as the public face of the initiative at the AI summit and is now under scrutiny. He is not part of the core technical faculty, a point he clarified after the controversy broke. Speaking to news agency PTI, Singh said that he is a lecturer in the Department of Communication at the School of Management.
Neha Singh was seen in a viral video promoting RoboDog as ‘Orion’ and making remarks about it at the AI expo. After the controversy broke out, Neha Singh claimed that she never tried to present RoboDog as belonging to the University.
“We never claimed that it was ours, Indian or Galgotian. Its main branding is still on it. The robot that came for a specific task went there for children to study, for children’s research and development. It went to our centre, our campus, children’s laboratory. It was here for two days for the projection; the projection was completed,” Professor Neha Singh told ANI.
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Professor Neha Singh told reporters, “With a wrong comment, the internet took the internet by storm. Maybe I did not convey what I wanted to say well or it was misunderstood. I am a lecturer in communication at the School of Management, not in the field of artificial intelligence. Only you (the media) heard what the government said. As far as I know, we are at the fair. We are standing tall as a university. The robot was brought here only for projection.”
Before joining Galgotias University in November 2023, Neha Singh worked as an Assistant Professor at Sharda University, Greater Noida and also served as a Verbal Aptitude consultant at Career Launcher. His LinkedIn profile now says “open for work.”
Before that, he worked at GITAM. Singh completed his MBA from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya in 2006 and previously earned a B.Com degree from Allahabad University.
Neha Singh clarifies the controversy
Professor Neha Singh clarified that it was not the intention to claim that the robodog was developed indigenously. “The controversy arose because some things were not stated clearly,” he said. “I take responsibility for perhaps not communicating this properly because it was done with great energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have delivered it as effectively as I usually do.
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Neha Singh’s LinkedIn Bio
In her LinkedIn bio, Neha Singh claims that she has the ability to connect, inspire and uplift others through her command of language. Singh’s bio on LinkedIn reads: “With a natural gift for language, expression and stage presence, I have spent years helping individuals uncover their voices and express themselves clearly and effectively. I believe the right words at the right time can truly change everything.”
How did the debate start?
The controversy arose when videos of the five-day event emerged in which representatives of the University of Galgotias showcased the robotic dog as an innovation developed by the Center of Excellence. The center is led by Neha Singh, who represents the university on initiatives related to artificial intelligence and robotics.
“This is Orion. This was developed by the Galgotias University Center of Excellence,” Singh was heard saying in the clips. The clips went viral on social media and the professor’s claims were debunked as users pointed out that the innovation was developed and commercially sold by Unitree, a Chinese company. It sells commercially for $2,800.
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Amid growing criticism, Galgotias University released an official statement addressing the issue. The institution expressed concern over what it called a “propaganda campaign” and emphasized that the robotic programming demonstrations were part of broader efforts to educate students about artificial intelligence.
The university has argued that its aim is to develop AI capabilities by allowing students to experiment with and use technologies that are already globally available. As the controversy continues to fuel debate online, Singh maintained that it was not an attempt to misrepresent the origins of the robot, describing it as an effort to inspire students through hands-on experience of advanced AI tools.
(With TOI entries)
