India’s ambition to position itself as a global Artificial Intelligence powerhouse took centre stage in New Delhi this February—but alongside landmark announcements and international praise, the country’s biggest-ever AI gathering also witnessed controversy, confusion and moments that set social media buzzing.
A Global First for the Global South
On February 16, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, welcoming world leaders, tech innovators and corporate heavyweights. The event was historic not just for its scale, but because it marked the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
The numbers were staggering: more than 20 heads of state, 60 ministers and over 500 AI leaders participated. Industry icons such as Mukesh Ambani, N. Chandrasekaran, Bill Gates, Antonio Guterres, Sundar Pichai and Demis Hassabis were among those in attendance, alongside leaders including Emmanuel Macron.
When a Grand Summit Turned Messy
Despite the high-profile lineup, the summit’s opening day drew sharp criticism from attendees. Social media was flooded with complaints about overcrowding, delayed entry, malfunctioning access cards and unreliable internet connectivity.
Several delegates claimed they were made to queue for hours, evacuated mid-day for sanitisation, and left without basic facilities. One widely shared post summed up the frustration: “No water. No clarity. Media shows celebration. Ground reality was chaos.” The criticism dented the otherwise polished image projected by the organisers.
Bill Gates’ Exit Sparks Speculation
Another flashpoint emerged when Bill Gates pulled out of his scheduled keynote. Organisers confirmed his appearance was cancelled at the last minute due to renewed attention on his past association with Jeffrey Epstein. To avoid further controversy, the Gates Foundation was instead represented by Ankur Vora, President of its Africa and India offices.
Robot Row Puts Spotlight on Galgotia University
The summit also saw an embarrassing episode involving Galgotia University. A robotic dog showcased at its pavilion was presented as an in-house innovation, only for online users to identify it as the Unitree Go2, a product of a Chinese firm.
A video of Professor Neha Singh introducing the robot as “Orion” went viral, triggering backlash. The university later clarified it had not claimed the robot was indigenous, but the damage was already done. Galgotia University eventually shut down its pavilion amid mounting criticism.
Viral Photo Op Raises Eyebrows
One of the most talked-about moments came during a group photograph with PM Modi and top tech CEOs. OpenAI chief Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, known rivals in the AI space, opted to raise their fists instead of holding hands during the photo-op. The awkward gesture quickly went viral, fuelling speculation and memes online.
MANAV Vision: India’s Ethical AI Pitch
On February 19, PM Modi delivered a keynote before delegates from 118 countries, unveiling the MANAV Vision—India’s framework for ethical and inclusive AI governance. The five-point doctrine emphasised morality, accountability, data sovereignty, accessibility and legality, placing the “human” at the heart of technological progress.
Big Bets and Strategic Shifts
The summit wasn’t short on blockbuster announcements. Mukesh Ambani revealed Reliance’s plan to invest ₹10 lakh crore in AI and digital infrastructure from 2026, calling it “nation-building capital.” Meanwhile, India formally joined the US-led Pax Silica initiative on February 20, signalling a strategic shift toward deeper cooperation with Washington on critical technologies.
India’s Push for Sovereign AI
Showcasing its homegrown capabilities, India unveiled multiple sovereign AI models under the IndiaAI Mission. These included Sarvam AI’s large language models, Gnani.ai’s multilingual voice technologies, and BharatGen’s sector-focused AI systems designed for governance and public services in 22 Indian languages.
Global leaders praised India’s developer ecosystem, noting that the country’s AI journey is no longer about catching up—but about shaping the rules of the future.
