Vir Das mocks Galgotias robodog row, urges fans to adopt 'indie dogs'

Actor-comedian Vir Das has weighed in on the Galgotias University robot dog controversy — and his cheeky take is winning the internet. So, what exactly did Vir Das say?

Comedian Vir Das has entered the Galgotias University robot dog conversation – and, unsurprisingly, he isn't holding back. As the internet debated whether the university overstated its role in showcasing a robot dog at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Das took to X with a perfectly timed dose of sarcasm.

“Nothing is REALLY original when you think about it,” he wrote, before joking that everything was made by “the great Galgotia University in the sky.” He then shared a photograph of a dog and quipped that he had reassured the pup it wasn’t manufactured by the university — while encouraging people to adopt an "indie dog" instead. Social media totally lapped it up.

The controversy erupted after a summit video showed Professor Neha Singh introducing the robot dog, ‘Orion’, as part of the university’s Centre of Excellence. Within hours, social media users identified the machine as a commercially available model produced by Unitree Robotics, prompting accusations that the institution had overstated its role.

Das’s humour tapped into a broader online mood – one sceptical of inflated claims and quick to call out perceived exaggeration. By pivoting the conversation towards adopting indie dogs, he managed to turn a tense tech debate into a light-hearted social moment.

In the circulating clip, Orion was presented as part of Galgotias University’s AI initiatives. Viewers interpreted this as a claim of in-house development. However, the university later clarified that it never stated it had manufactured the robot. According to its official response, the device was purchased as part of broader AI investments.

At the summit, Dr Aishwarya Shrivastava reiterated that there had been “no claim” of manufacturing the robot. The institution also denied any attempt to conceal Unitree’s branding.