Lead
Reporting from New Delhi on Feb. 19–20, 2026, our correspondent observed a high-profile AI Impact Summit that combined grand ambitions with operational disarray. Global tech leaders including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google’s Sundar Pichai attended while India pitched itself as an emerging AI hub aiming to attract $200 billion in investment over the next two years. Despite major announcements and partnership commitments, the event was punctuated by access problems, conflicting instructions for media and delegates, and several public controversies that clouded the message. The summit underscored both India’s appeal to big tech and the reputational risks of poor execution.
Key Takeaways
- The government announced an objective to draw $200 billion in AI investment over the next two years, positioning India as a major target for cloud, data-center and research spending.
- OpenAI was reported to become the first customer of Tata Consultancy Services’ data-center business—an early commercial tie linking a U.S. AI firm and an Indian IT giant.
- Logistical problems were widespread: media and delegates faced unclear entry protocols at Bharat Mandapam and heavy traffic in New Delhi caused repeated delays.
- High-profile attendance included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, signaling strong industry interest despite organizational issues.
- Controversies included uncertainty over Bill Gates’ planned keynote and a dispute involving Galgotias University’s display of a Unitree-made robot dog.
- A staged group photo and a hand-holding moment involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew viral attention after Altman and Anthropic’s CEO appeared uncertain about instructions.
- Several firms used the summit to announce partnerships and research ties, notably Google’s education and research collaborations for its Gemini AI feature.
Background
India has been explicitly courting AI investment and talent as part of a broader strategy to elevate its technology sector. Government messaging ahead of the summit emphasized a combination of a large domestic market, a deep engineering talent pool, and growing infrastructure for data centers and cloud services. That economic pitch aims to attract multinational firms and to accelerate local AI development, from enterprise implementations to education programs.
Global firms have increasingly viewed India as both a talent pipeline and a commercial market. U.S. companies in particular see opportunities to expand services, host data and form research partnerships. At the same time, large multilateral events carry political and logistical complexity—requiring careful coordination between private companies, government agencies and venue operators. Past large-scale tech gatherings have shown that operational failures can overshadow policy ambitions and partnership announcements.
Main Event
On the ground in New Delhi, traffic snarls repeatedly delayed press movements between hotels and venues, complicating a packed schedule of interviews and briefings. Media crews reported unclear instructions about entry times for Bharat Mandapam, the summit venue; teams were later admitted at staggered times after a crowd had already formed outside the gates. Inside the venue, some journalists and delegates described receiving inconsistent guidance from security officials about where and when they could enter certain areas.
Several high-profile moments added to the summit’s chaotic atmosphere. A planned keynote by Bill Gates became a focal point of uncertainty after the Gates Foundation initially confirmed his participation and then stated he would not attend. Separately, a Galgotias University team was publicly challenged when observers noted a robot dog on display was manufactured by Chinese company Unitree; the university said its students were focused on programming and integration work rather than hardware manufacture.
Political theater also made headlines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a staged group photo that included global AI executives; during a moment when leaders were asked to hold hands onstage, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei later said they were unsure what the instruction entailed, a brief episode that went viral online. Despite these disruptions, companies used the summit to formalize partnerships—OpenAI’s reported deal with Tata Consultancy Services and Google’s announced research and education collaborations were among the week’s concrete outcomes.
Analysis & Implications
India’s public goal of securing $200 billion in AI investment over two years is ambitious and will require coordinated policy, infrastructure and talent-scaling efforts. If realized, such capital could accelerate data-center construction, cloud availability and enterprise AI adoption—fueling growth across sectors from finance to healthcare. However, converting intent into investment depends on regulatory clarity, incentives for foreign firms, and assurances about data governance and cross-border flows.
Operational missteps at a marquee summit carry reputational costs. Confusion about media access, guest participation and onstage protocol may create doubts among executives assessing whether India can reliably host and support large-scale commercial projects. For firms deciding where to locate sensitive infrastructure, perceptions of administrative competence and policy stability matter as much as market size or talent pools.
The summit also highlighted geopolitical balances. While many announcements involved U.S. firms, the robot-assembly controversy and questions about hardware sourcing underscore the wider challenge of supply-chain diversity. India’s push to attract investment intersects with global rivalries over AI infrastructure, chip supply, and data access—creating both opportunities for partnerships and risks of political friction.
Comparison & Data
| Item | AI Impact Summit (Feb 2026) |
|---|---|
| Government investment target | $200 billion over two years |
| Notable participating firms | OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Tata Consultancy Services |
| Operational issues reported | Access delays, conflicting security instructions, event controversies |
The table places the summit’s headline commitments alongside the practical frictions reported on-site. While headline figures (notably the $200 billion target) provide a metric of ambition, the operational items reflect near-term risks that could inhibit rapid deployment and investor confidence.
Reactions & Quotes
“The excitement here, it’s just been incredible to watch,”
Sam Altman, OpenAI (on India’s AI potential)
Altman expressed enthusiasm about India’s talent and market opportunity while also acknowledging logistical oddities elsewhere in the event program.
“We apologize for the problems on day one,”
Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s IT Minister
The minister’s apology acknowledged early organizational lapses and signaled that the government recognized the need to manage the summit’s operational shortcomings.
“Students worked on programming and deployment using globally available tools,”
Galgotias University (statement to media)
The university denied claims it had manufactured the robot hardware, framing its role as focusing on software and student learning—an explanation that remains contested in public discussion.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Bill Gates was ever formally scheduled to give the keynote or if plans changed at short notice remains unclear from public statements.
- The extent to which Galgotias University presented the robot as fully developed in-house is disputed, with social media and broadcaster reports offering differing accounts.
- Some reports of the timeline for media entry and the precise sequence of security briefings at Bharat Mandapam vary between outlets and eyewitnesses.
Bottom Line
The AI Impact Summit in New Delhi showcased India’s strong appeal to global AI companies and set forth a bold $200 billion investment objective that could reshape regional AI capacity. Yet the event’s logistical missteps and public controversies risk diluting that message, underscoring that attraction alone is not enough—operational reliability and clear governance will be vital to secure sustained, large-scale investment.
For policymakers and industry leaders, the immediate priority should be translating headline ambitions into concrete, trackable commitments—clear timelines for infrastructure projects, transparent regulatory frameworks for data and AI, and visible milestones that reassure investors. If India addresses those implementation gaps, the summit may still mark an inflection point for its role in the global AI ecosystem.