The much‑hyped India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, touted as South Asia’s largest technology forum, quickly fell into disarray due to organizational failures.
Microsoft co‑founder Bill Gates scrapped his keynote address just hours before he was scheduled to speak.
Shortly after, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also withdrew from the platform, leaving delegates and media stunned. Sources inside the venue described chaotic last‑minute scheduling changes, missing technical support, and inadequate stage preparations that contributed to high‑profile withdrawals.
Industry officials and summit participants said confusion over speaker slots, lack of proper communication with global guests, and no dedicated coordination team for international delegations made it nearly impossible for dignitaries to participate with confidence.
Indian University Claims Chinese Robots as Local Innovation
One of the summit’s most embarrassing moments came when a private Indian university showcased robots as “indigenously developed AI breakthroughs.” Icing on the cake was that federal minister of science aslo apprecaited the universities so called invention.
This robot is avialable for sale on a Chinese company’s website .Social media users quickly exposed the robots as being manufactured in China, leading to widespread mockery and memes.Within hours, the institution was forced to issue a public clarification admitting the robots were imported, not locally designed.
Tech experts said presenting foreign products without disclosure undermines India’s credibility in the global tech community, especially at an event meant to spotlight national achievements in artificial intelligence.
Hilarious Political Rally–Style Photo Ops Go Viral
Organizers arranged a group photo session for summit attendees, but instead of a formal tech forum image, digital clips showed leaders posing and waving in exaggerated, crowd‑energizing gestures more reminiscent of political rallies than professional gatherings.
People on social media joked that the “summit group photo” looked more like a campaign event than an AI conference. Analysts said the awkward and overly staged visuals reflected a lack of media planning and proper direction — a stark contrast to the messaging expected from a global technology summit.
Exhibition Halls Emptied for Prime Minister’s Visit
The situation worsened when Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a high‑profile visit to the summit. Entire exhibition halls were abruptly cleared to make way for his entourage, security, and official media coverage.
Demonstrations by startups, live robot showcases, and interactive AI displays were suddenly stopped, and exhibitors had to pack up or pause demos midway. Several participating companies later expressed disappointment, saying their opportunities to showcase products to global investors and partners were severely disrupted by the last‑minute rearrangements.
Road Closures Turn Summit Access into a Walking Marathon
In preparation for the summit and Prime Minister Modi’s visit, authorities closed major roads near the venue. International delegates, IT professionals, investors, and business visitors found themselves on foot, walking several kilometers to reach parking areas or shuttle pick‑ups.
Videos emerged on social platforms showing tired attendees dragging luggage, walking in groups, or waiting long hours for taxis or public transport. Delegates complained of poor signage, lack of shuttle services, and no clear direction from organizers, turning what should have been a premier tech event into a logistical nightmare.