AI Impact Summit 2026: Challenges in Connectivity and Crowds

As the AI Impact Summit 2026 took place, leading policymakers, technologists and industry experts congregated in the capital. Despite the focus on artificial intelligence, discussions soon shifted to more pressing issues like queues, overcrowding, and connectivity challenges.

Large Turnout at Bharat Mandapam

Hosted at Bharat Mandapam, this significant event attracted a substantial audience, showcasing India’s increasing enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and its practical applications. However, navigating the venue became as significant a topic as the technology being presented.

Long Queues and Packed Spaces

Visual evidence from PTI depicted congested entry gates and bustling hallways, with attendees waiting in extensive lines to enter sessions and exhibition areas. The size of the gathering highlighted the rising appeal of AI, while simultaneously revealing logistical hurdles in organising such high-demand events.

Witty Online Commentary

A humorous “list of prohibited items,” which gained traction on social media, suggested that attendees should come “empty handed,” abandon their laptops at a “tech event,” and even refrain from asking “challenging questions” during discussions.

List of India AI Impact Summit Prohibited Items:

– bags (come empty handed)

– car keys (park the car and discard the keys)

– laptops (no need to bring one to a tech event)

– earbuds (listening is not required)

– food and water (this isn’t a picnic)

The playful tone resonated with many, reflecting the sentiments of some attendees who perceived the security measures as overly strict for a convention focused on digital innovation.

Analog Frustrations at a Digital Event

Adding to the irony, several attendees noted that food stalls only accepted cash and did not support UPI, India’s leading digital payment method.

No UPI, only cash at the food counter at India AI Impact Summit 2026. Truly #DigitalIndia. A friend expressed frustration after enduring a long queue.
— Arti Singh (@artijourno) February 16, 2026

Others mentioned unreliable mobile internet reception within the venue, complicating efforts to communicate with colleagues, share updates, or engage in live online discussions.

“Mobile internet barely functions,” remarked one participant, highlighting the irony for an event centred on AI.

Mobile internet is hardly working at the India AI Impact Summit. Irony, IRONY, eye-run-eeeeeeee. (Who knows who’ll see this tweet and when)
— Aditi Agrawal (@Aditi_muses) February 16, 2026

Crowds and Confusion Arise

Overcrowding emerged as another prevalent theme. Some participants found it difficult to move between different halls or locate session rooms, while others felt the interactive aspects did not live up to the expectations set by a high-tech showcase.

A straightforward post encapsulated the feeling: aside from posters and advertisements, it appeared to be “just another well-promoted event.”

Brooooooo it’s excessively crowded here at AI SUMMIT Delhi; navigation is almost impossible, and besides AI posters, there’s nothing distinctly innovative here—just another well-marketed event.
— Kritika Kapoor (@Kritikaaaa_10) February 16, 2026

Nonetheless, the substantial attendance underscored the intense curiosity regarding AI in India. Developers, students, entrepreneurs, and corporate representatives — many attending such an event for the first time — filled the venue, signifying how firmly artificial intelligence has integrated into mainstream professional conversations.

Reflecting on the Experience

The disparity between the summit’s ambitious goals and the actual experience has sparked important discussions about how India manages large technology events amid the swiftly growing interest in AI.