India’s bid to lead global AI discourse faltered spectacularly at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi from February 16-21, 2026, where logistical failures and scandals overshadowed substantive dialogue.
Opening Day Debacle
The summit kicked off at Bharat Mandapam with monumental mismanagement, as around 80,000 attendees faced interminable queues from 7 AM, inadequate security briefings, and sudden evacuations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. Participants endured hours without food, water, or clear instructions on gates and seating, while reports of theft at startup booths and unreliable Wi-Fi compounded the irony of an AI showcase. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw issued a public apology, but the damage to India’s hosting credentials lingered.
Robodog Farce Tarnishes Indigenous Claims
Galgotias University’s exhibit ignited outrage when communications head Neha Singh presented a Chinese Unitree Go2 robodog, rebranded “Orion,” as a homegrown product from its Rs 350 crore AI centre. The viral video prompted swift backlash, power cutoffs to the pavilion, and demands for the university’s exit, exposing deeper anxieties over authentic innovation amid “Make in India” rhetoric. Galgotias later apologised, blaming an “ill-informed” representative, but the episode mocked the summit’s push for self-reliance.
Gates’ Last-Minute Exit Signals Bigger Woes
Bill Gates abruptly withdrew his keynote hours before his slot alongside Modi and Macron, with the Gates Foundation citing a need to refocus on “key priorities” amid scrutiny over his Epstein ties. This high-profile pullout, following days of chaos, left delegates questioning the event’s gravitas and global pull.
Youth Congress Disruption Adds Political Heat
Indian Youth Congress activists stormed the venue shirtless on February 20, waving t-shirts with anti-Modi slogans accusing him of “trading national identity,” prompting detentions and facial recognition probes. The protest, targeting alleged compromises in AI deals, amplified opposition critiques from leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, turning a tech forum into a political tinderbox.
Legacy of a Squandered Opportunity
Despite announcements like the New Delhi Frontier AI Commitments and IndiaAI Mission models, the summit’s scandals— from queues to faked tech—eclipsed its “seven Chakras” vision for inclusive AI. For a nation eyeing Global South leadership, this was less innovation showcase than cautionary tale of overreach without execution.
A Wake-up Call for the Global South
The AI Impact Summit 2026 did manage to produce some substantial policy discussions regarding AI for agriculture and healthcare. However, those successes will likely be footnotes.
The lasting legacy of this summit is a cautionary tale. To lead the world in Artificial Intelligence, a nation needs more than just catchy “Sutras” and grand venues. It requires administrative competence, intellectual integrity in its academic institutions, and a stable environment that doesn’t see its star guests fleeing before the microphones are even turned on. New Delhi wanted to show the world the future; instead, it showed that it is still grappling with the ghosts of its bureaucratic past.
~Hasnain Naqvi is a former member of the history faculty at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
Picture credit social media
~Hasnain Naqvi is a former member of the history faculty at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
