New Delhi: India’s premier AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced in the capital with high ambitions of shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the five-day international conference is being billed as the first major AI gathering hosted in the Global South, drawing delegates from over 100 countries and featuring tech leaders like Sam Altman of OpenAI and Sundar Pichai of Alphabet Inc.
Despite the technological optimism, many attendees reported that the summit’s first day was overshadowed by long queues and organizational confusion.
Hours-Long Delays and Security Issues
At Bharat Mandapam, visitors faced overcrowding, bottlenecks at entry points, and inconsistent instructions from security personnel. Some delegates spent hours waiting to enter, while others were temporarily evacuated from exhibition halls without explanation. Founders and exhibitors shared their experiences on social media, describing abrupt security checks and sudden hall closures that caused further disruption.
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Exhibitor Grievances and Visitor Frustration
Exhibitors also reported thefts from stalls during the chaos. Attendees complained about limited access to food and water, and international visitors found certain counters only accepted cash — creating an inconvenience in a country promoting digital payments. These issues prompted criticism over planning and crowd management, raising questions about the organizers’ preparedness for a summit of this scale.
India’s AI Ambitions in Focus
In his opening address, Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s “talent, innovation, and AI potential,” stating the country aims to develop solutions “for the world, not just for India.” IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that the summit would explore both the promise and the risks of AI. While the event successfully attracted global attention, the first-day operational setbacks have raised concerns over the execution of such large-scale technology gatherings.