India’s AI Summit Opens to Global Leaders—But Logistical Chaos Steals

When the gates opened at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday morning, the scene wasn’t quite what organizers had envisioned for India’s landmark AI Impact Summit. Instead of a seamless showcase of the country’s technological ambitions, delegates were met with hours-long queues, overcrowded halls, and confusion that threatened to overshadow the event’s global significance.

“We spent heavily on travel, accommodation and exhibition space, only to see our wearables disappear inside a high-security zone.” — Dhananjay Yadav, founder of NeoSapiens

A $200 Billion Bet on AI Leadership

The five-day summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, represents India’s most ambitious attempt yet to position itself as a global AI powerhouse. With more than 100 countries participating and technology leaders including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai expected to attend, the event marks the first major international AI meeting hosted in the Global South.

Speaking at the inauguration, Modi framed the summit as a demonstration of “the extraordinary potential of AI, Indian talent and innovation,” emphasizing that India aimed to shape solutions “not just for India but for the world.” The messaging aligns with India’s broader strategy to attract over $200 billion in AI infrastructure investment by 2030—a figure that underscores the country’s determination to compete with the US and China in the AI race.

The Gap Between Ambition and Execution

Crowd management emerged as the most visible failure on day one. By Monday afternoon, social media was flooded with complaints from founders, exhibitors, and delegates who reported security sweeps and last-minute closures that left them stranded outside exhibition halls. Maitreya Wagh, co-founder of voice AI start-up Bolna, wrote on X that he was unable to access his company’s booth after gates were closed without warning.

Operational basics proved equally problematic. Punit Jain, founder of tech platform Reskill, described “7 AM queues” followed by hours of waiting and a “full evacuation” before the prime minister’s arrival. Several attendees complained that food counters accepted only cash—not digital payments—creating particular inconvenience for international visitors in a country that has championed its digital payment infrastructure.

Security concerns added to the chaos. Dhananjay Yadav, founder of wearable AI start-up NeoSapiens, alleged that products from his company’s stall were stolen at the venue despite the high-security environment. The incident raised questions about whether the summit’s security protocols were designed more for VIP protection than for safeguarding the exhibitors central to the event’s purpose.

“Unless we get the basics right, we cannot claim to be utilising AI to its fullest. AI is only part of the system. We must solve basic on-ground issues first.” — Soumya Sharma, founder of Livo AI

What the Summit Means for Global AI Governance

Despite the operational stumbles, the summit’s significance extends far beyond its logistical challenges. India’s Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw apologized to exhibitors for “any issue or inconvenience” and announced that a “war-room” had been established to address problems in real-time. About 70,000 people have attended the summit, Vaishnaw noted, acknowledging that “the organisation is very slow.”

The summit’s stated goal—to examine both the benefits and harms of AI—positions India as a potential mediator in global AI governance debates. With the US and China dominating AI development, India’s role as a neutral platform for international dialogue could prove valuable. The participation of over 100 countries suggests that many nations see value in an alternative venue for AI discussions outside the traditional Western-dominated forums.

For technology companies, the summit represents both opportunity and risk. The presence of Altman and Pichai signals that major AI firms take India’s market and regulatory environment seriously. Yet the logistical failures also highlight the challenges of operating in a rapidly developing ecosystem where ambition often outpaces infrastructure.

The Road Ahead

The coming days will determine whether the India AI Impact Summit can recover from its chaotic opening. The substance of the discussions—focusing on AI’s impact on human society—remains relevant and timely. But the operational failures have already provided a cautionary tale about the gap between technological ambition and on-the-ground execution.

For India, the summit represents a test of its ability to host world-class technology events. The country has successfully managed large-scale international gatherings before, but the AI summit’s combination of high-profile attendees, complex security requirements, and massive public interest created unique challenges.

The ultimate measure of success won’t be the headlines about queues and confusion, but whether the summit produces concrete outcomes for AI governance and India’s position in the global technology landscape. For now, the world is watching to see if India can turn its AI ambitions into reality—or if the gap between vision and execution proves too wide to bridge.

This article was reported by the ArtificialDaily editorial team. For more information, visit BBC News and ANI News.