If the dream was “Digital India meets AI revolution,” Day One at the India AI Impact Summit felt more like “Digital India meets Delhi traffic and endless queues.” Visitors to the grand Bharat Mandapam in Delhi reported QR codes that refused to scan, UPI systems that took an unscheduled break, and internet so patchy it could barely stream a GIF — all while the nation’s prime minister toured the expo, presumably trying not to trip over the chaos.
The summit, held from February 16–20, is being billed as a flagship event for India’s AI push, featuring over 600 high-potential startups and 13 country pavilions showcasing global collaboration in AI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked the floor, stopping at stalls and interacting with founders, while outside the venue, attendees faced logistical hiccups that seemed more like a stress test than a showcase.
Reports claimed that Digi Yatra entrances were crowded with massive lines, QR codes failed repeatedly, mobile internet barely worked, and restrictions forced them to leave behind bags and car keys.
Social media reflected a similar mood, with X users quipping that India had solved world hunger through AI, but not Delhi traffic or queue management.
Another posted a humorous “prohibited items” list, including bags, car keys, laptops, earbuds, and even sharp and bold questions during panel discussions.
There were reports of exhibitors being stranded outside, unable to access their own booths.
Social media posts claimed that security arrived at noon to sanitise and cordon off the area ahead of the PM’s 2 pm visit.
Despite assurances that their AI wearables would be safe, the equipment was later found to have gone missing.
X users described paying for flights, accommodation, logistics, and booths only to see their prototypes disappear within a supposedly high-security zone.
One participant summed up the first day as a lesson in irony: queues starting at 7 am, delayed entries, evacuation for sanitisation, and hours of waiting, leaving exhibitors, delegates, and startup founders stranded with no water or clarity.
Constellation of leaders
Meanwhile, the government is presenting the summit as part of its vision to democratise AI in India. The Department of Financial Services recently released a socio-economic impact report highlighting the success of RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions, based on surveys covering over 10,000 respondents across 15 states.
The report underlines UPI as the preferred mode of transaction and calls for targeted interventions to expand RuPay usage in rural and semi-urban areas.
The India AI Impact Summit brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and technology innovators at a time when nations are racing to define their AI agendas. Yet Day One revealed a contrast between ambitious vision and on-the-ground execution. It proved that even in an AI-powered future, human queues and logistical chaos remain frustratingly analoge.
The Bill Gates mystery
Adding a twist to the day’s logistical chaos, confusion briefly swirled over whether Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates would actually appear at the summit.
Some media reports, citing unnamed government sources, claimed he might skip the event due to his name appearing in recently released files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
However, a spokesperson for the Bill Gates Foundation clarified that he was indeed attending and would deliver his keynote as scheduled on February 19 at 11:50 am.
The summit website had, for a time, omitted his name from the list of speakers, adding to the uncertainty, while Gates’ team dismissed the allegations in the documents as “absolutely absurd.”
Also Read: India’s ‘AI Impact Summit’ Promises Little More Than Spectacle https://www.vibesofindia.com/indias-ai-impact-summit-promises-little-more-than-spectacle/
