Inside India’s AI Impact Summit: Robot fraud, gridlocked roads, and a no-show from Bill Gates

Fortune

by Beatrice Nolan

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

India’s AI Impact Summit in New Delhi aimed to shape the future of artificial intelligence on a global scale but faced significant logistical and organizational challenges that overshadowed its ambitious goals. The summit, attended by over 20 heads of state, CEOs of leading AI companies, and delegates from 80 countries, sought to establish India as a key player in the AI landscape, particularly in the Global South. While it achieved notable successes, including a diplomatic declaration committing 88 countries to inclusive AI development and $200 billion in investments, the event was marred by chaos and mismanagement. The summit’s logistical nightmare began with traffic congestion, a common issue in New Delhi, which worsened due to VIP movements—police closing roads to facilitate the movement of high-profile attendees. This led to hours-long delays for speakers, delegates, and journalists, often leaving them stranded or late to events. One prominent attendee, Yoshua Bengio, a pioneer in AI, had to deliver his speech via a blurry video link after being stuck in traffic, while Sara Hooker, CEO of Adaption Labs, missed an event entirely due to delays. The venue itself was overcrowded, with attendees facing long queues, poor communication infrastructure, and ever-changing entry policies. The summit’s chaos extended beyond transportation issues. Exhibitors were unexpectedly evicted from the venue midday to accommodate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, leaving them unprepared and frustrated. Attendees also reported a pervasive “VIP culture” that made non-VIP guests feel marginalized. Despite these challenges, the event managed to secure significant commitments, including voluntary

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Originally published on Fortune on 2/23/2026