AI Impact Summit 2026: Chinese Robot Controversy Sparks Student Protests in India
The AI Impact Summit 2026 was held from 16–20 February at India Pavilion in Delhi, bringing together heads of state, global technology company leaders, researchers, and academics from various countries.
However, from the inauguration onward, the summit was marred by mismanagement and a major controversy over a Chinese robot claimed to be developed by an Indian university. Microsoft founder Bill Gates canceled his planned visit after his name surfaced in the “Epstein Files,” with the Gates Foundation also withdrawing participation.
After the summit’s inauguration by Narendra Modi, a quadruped robot dog was displayed at a stall, reportedly created by students of an Indian university. The achievement was promoted as a symbol of India’s AI progress, with the country’s technology minister sharing a social media post.
Within hours, fact-checkers revealed that the robot was actually manufactured by a Chinese robotics company and not in India. The minister deleted the post, but by then, social media was flooded with memes and trolling. The incident turned the summit in Delhi into a laughingstock over innovation claims, and the alleged student-made robot by Galgotias University sparked nationwide debate about the misrepresentation and summit mismanagement.
The controversy also coincided with anti-Modi protests. On 20 February, Friday, the Indian police reported that four individuals were arrested during a demonstration.
According to police, several Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members staged a “shirt-opening protest” inside the venue, raising slogans against the government and India–United States agreements. Their T-shirts bore images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The arrested individuals are Krishna Hari (National Secretary of the Youth Congress from Bihar), Kundan Yadav (Bihar State Secretary), Ajay Kumar (Uttar Pradesh State President), and Narsima Yadav (Telangana). They are scheduled to be presented at Patiala House Court. An FIR has been filed, with multiple serious charges being investigated.
Police stated that the protesters clashed with security personnel and officers, and authorities are examining whether there was a larger conspiracy. Earlier, about 15 people were detained at Tilak Marg Police Station. A senior officer remarked that strict measures would be taken against attempts to disrupt law and order.
Following the incident, the BJP sharply criticized the Congress party, alleging that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi instigated the “commotion” to tarnish India’s global image.
Through social media, the Indian Youth Congress stated that their protest was not against the AI summit but against agreements perceived to be against national interests. They claimed that media and online platforms were suppressing dissent, prompting them to stage the protest inside the summit.
The post further declared, “We will not remain silent if the interests of the country’s farmers and youth are sacrificed.”
Police confirmed that protesters had registered online and collected QR codes. They entered the venue wearing jackets over T-shirts with objectionable messages, removing the jackets near Hall No. 5 lobby to begin their demonstration.
After the incident, security at the summit venue was tightened by Delhi Police.
DBTech/NA/EK/OR
