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Delhi AI summit hit by organizational chaos
India's inaugural global AI conference, touted as a showcase of innovation, faced severe logistical issues during its first day in New Delhi, drawing sharp criticism from attendees.
Opening day descends into disarray
Delegates and exhibitors at the five-day AI Impact Summit reported extensive delays, overcrowding, and confusion at the Bharat Mandapam venue on Monday. Many described waiting for hours in long queues, with some unable to access their exhibition stalls due to sudden security closures.
Maitreya Wagh, co-founder of voice AI startup Bolna, stated on social media that his team was locked out of their booth after gates were abruptly shut. Punit Jain, founder of Reskill, recounted arriving at 7 AM only to endure prolonged waits and a full evacuation ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival.
Reuters noted that some speakers remained uninformed about their session schedules, further highlighting coordination gaps.
Security and theft concerns surface
Dhananjay Yadav, founder of wearable AI firm NeoSapiens, alleged that products were stolen from his company's stall within the high-security zone. Yadav expressed frustration over the financial and logistical investments made for the event, only to face such losses.
Attendees also raised issues with food stalls, which reportedly accepted only cash, posing difficulties for international visitors accustomed to digital payments.
Minister acknowledges shortcomings
On Tuesday, India's Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw apologized to exhibitors for the inconveniences, stating that a "war-room" had been established to address complaints. He acknowledged that the event's organization was "very slow" despite accommodating 70,000 participants.
"Whatever feedback you have, please share with us. We are working very hard to make this experience enjoyable for everyone,"
Ashwini Vaishnaw, IT Minister
Summit aims to highlight AI's global role
Inaugurated by PM Modi, the summit seeks to position India as a leader in AI innovation, with over 100 countries participating. Key figures like OpenAI's Sam Altman and Alphabet's Sundar Pichai are expected to attend.
Modi emphasized India's ambition to develop AI solutions with global applications, while Vaishnaw stressed the need to evaluate AI's societal impact, both positive and negative.
However, Soumya Sharma, founder of healthcare AI startup Livo AI, warned that operational failures risked overshadowing the event's substantive discussions. "Unless we get the basics right, we cannot claim to be utilizing AI to its fullest," he wrote on social media.
Ministry yet to respond to specific allegations
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has not yet addressed the theft allegations or other detailed complaints raised by attendees.
