India's Flagship AI Summit Descends Into Chaos Amid Long Queues and Modi Lockdown
For many on the ground, the first day was defined by blocked gates, delayed panels, and profound uncertainty over access. India's premier artificial intelligence summit was dramatically overshadowed by widespread chaos on its opening day, with attendees facing long queues in unseasonal heat, severe traffic congestion, and sudden security sweeps ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit.
Massive Attendance Meets Operational Disarray
Thousands of people attended the summit on Monday at the expansive 123-acre Bharat Mandapam complex in the capital, Delhi. Over 250,000 individuals had registered for attendance throughout the week. The high-profile guest list featured French President Emmanuel Macron and technology giants Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai, as India aggressively aims to position itself as a dominant global AI hub.
However, the experience for many participants was defined less by grand geopolitical messaging and more by operational failures and confusion. After initially allowing attendees inside the venue, including the main exhibition hall where companies showcased their AI capabilities, the entire zone was reportedly evacuated in the afternoon for intensive security checks preceding Mr. Modi's visit. This forced exhibitors and startup founders to abandon their stalls for several critical hours.
Exhibitors Report Stolen Equipment After Sudden Evacuation
Founders took to social media to express frustration, reporting an inability to retrieve their equipment, which they later claimed was stolen following the abrupt evacuation. Dhananjay Yadav, co-founder and chief executive of AI wearable startup NeoSapien, detailed the incident on X, explaining that security personnel arrived around noon and instructed exhibitors to leave ahead of the prime minister's arrival.
"I asked: 'Should we take our wearables?' They said, others are leaving even laptops behind, security will take care," he wrote. "Later we found our wearables were stolen. We paid for flights, accommodation, logistics and even the booth. Only to see our wearables disappear inside a high-security zone."
Devesh Mahla, deputy commissioner of police for the New Delhi district, stated on Tuesday that no formal complaint had been received regarding the thefts. Numerous exhibitors at the venue complained to organisers about unclear instructions and overlapping security directives, with many left uncertain about when access would be restored.
Widespread Confusion and Lengthy Queues
Delegates described significant confusion over entry procedures and security checks. Maitreya Wagh, founder of Bengaluru-based AI company Bolna, shared a photo of extensive queues outside the venue on X, noting: "Gates are closed so could not access my own booth at the AI Summit. If you're also stuck outside and wanted to visit the @bolna_dev team, dm me. We may set up a mini-booth at some Connaught Place cafe."
Several key roads were blocked, and traffic was extensively diverted in central Delhi ahead of the summit, exacerbating arrival difficulties. Organisers informed Indian media on Tuesday that steps had been implemented to ease congestion and improve coordination for the remaining days. By Tuesday morning, queues had slightly eased, though traffic diversions around central Delhi continued to impact delegate and media arrival times.
Government Response and Apology
India's Information Technology Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressed the issues, stating: "This is the biggest AI summit in the world. The response was phenomenal. The energy is palpable. We can see the organization is very smooth now. If anybody has faced any problems yesterday, we apologise for that. Whatever feedback you have, please share with us. We are open-minded. We will make efforts to make the experience smoother and enjoyable for all of you. We have a war room which has been operating since yesterday. My entire team is working hard day and night for this summit."
Bill Gates Speaker List Confusion
The confusion extended into the second day when Bill Gates's name briefly vanished from the list of speakers on the summit website, sparking speculation that he had been disinvited due to recent criticism over his past association with Jeffrey Epstein. One Indian media report cited government sources suggesting Mr. Gates was "not expected" to attend and that his invitation had been "reviewed."
However, a spokesperson for Mr. Gates firmly denied these reports, telling The Independent: "Bill Gates is attending the AI Impact Summit. He will be delivering his keynote as scheduled." Mr. Gates's invitation had previously drawn criticism in India, with his visit attracting protests in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh by opposition political party members.
Mr. Gates had already arrived in India on Monday and met with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Amaravati, where he praised the state's application of AI and technology in health, agriculture, and education. He has been reviewing projects supported by the Gates Foundation, which is actively involved in public health initiatives within the state.
The summit is scheduled to continue until 20 February, with keynote addresses and high-level sessions planned for Thursday and Friday, as organisers strive to recover from the chaotic start.
