The AI ​​Impact Summit 2026, hosted by India, has concluded amid a large gathering of technology leaders and world leaders, excitement, controversy, political opposition and some managerial chaos. The conference, which ran from February 16 to 20 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, saw debate, praise, disagreement, hope and concern about the future of AI.

Sam Altman, the head of Open AI, one of the prominent participants of the summit, spoke to CNBC and commented that the enthusiasm for AI in India was amazing. “I am very excited to see the energy here and the interest of people,” he said. “The enthusiasm here is amazing and worth watching.” CNBC journalist Arjun Kharpal called the summit one of the most challenging reporting assignments of his career. “Many delegates and journalists had to suffer due to the traffic and security management in New Delhi,” he said.

On the first day of the conference, which is said to have sent invitations to about two lakh people, there were complaints of extremely long lines, unbearable crowds and delays in entry. According to Business Standard, participants had to stand for three hours. The media also mentioned that the registration system crashed and the cumbersome security checks were frustrating. The AI ​​conference was also widely criticized for issues such as non-functioning WiFi, disruption of payment system (UPI) services, and lack of seats. Foreign guests and speakers who came to participate in the program praised India's technology manpower, cheap market, and AI infrastructure. Google CEO Sundar Pichai praised India's large manpower and consumer market. Pichai said that India has a strong foundation to move forward in the field of AI. According to AP News, the conference was attended by heads of state of 20 countries. Powerful leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with India's AI journey.

Macron, who was in India from February 17 to 19, believed that international cooperation was necessary in the development of technology. Addressing the conference with 'Namaste', he praised India's digital achievements. He believed that the promise or benefits of AI will be fulfilled only if all people can enjoy it together. Macron said that the conference, which was previously hosted by France, has become an important platform for determining the future of AI for the Global South (developing countries).

Along with the excitement, the conference also saw controversy and criticism on several issues. Mainly, there was an uproar after the Galgotias University claimed that the robot dog made by the Chinese company 'Unitree' was its invention. For this reason, the university was expelled from the conference. Although the university later clarified that it was using the robot to teach students programming, it was further criticized for showing dependence by showcasing foreign technology.

An interesting scene between two big competitors in the AI ​​field at the conference also became popular on social media. While everyone was holding each other's hands and raising them up during a group photo with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on stage, OpenAI chief Altman and Anthropic chief Dario Amodei refused to hold each other's hands. This scene went viral on social media as the 'AI Cold War'. Altman later had to explain that he was confused about what to do.

Journalist Chhabi Chandni of The Logical Indian has reported in detail on the political protests inside the conference venue. According to her, on Saturday, Youth Congress workers were seen half-naked inside Hall No. 5 of Bharat Mandapam and chanting slogans against Prime Minister Modi. The protesters claimed that the trade agreement between India and the US would affect farmers and small businessmen. “The police arrested Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narsingh Yadav and took them into custody,” Chandni wrote. The security lapse inside the exhibition hall put the security agencies under a lot of pressure. The ruling BJP condemned it as an attempt to tarnish India’s international image.

According to NDTV, Microsoft President Brad Smith called India the world’s largest ‘AI classroom’. He mentioned that he sees India as an important partner in the field of AI. According to NDTV, Smith expressed his belief that the digital development taking place in India will give a new direction to the world.

The ‘New Delhi Declaration’ was issued on the fifth day of the conference. This declaration has been supported by 88 countries, including the US and China. The declaration has resolved to use AI for human welfare and inclusive development. According to Indian media, it emphasizes the development of safe and reliable AI systems. India aims to attract $200 billion in investment in this area in the next two years.

Time magazine journalist Billy Perrigo pointed out that there are differences between countries on the issue of AI regulation. The US argues that too much regulation of AI will hinder innovation. According to Perrigo, China was almost absent from this conference. Perrigo commented that this summit seemed more like a place to advertise India's technological power than a diplomatic forum. Large companies from various countries used this platform to sign business agreements with Indian companies.

According to AP News, concerns about job losses due to AI were also discussed at the conference. Sangita Gupta, Senior Vice President of NASSCOM, said that skill development (re-skilling) should be emphasized to meet this challenge. She believes that AI will create new opportunities even if it eliminates some old jobs. Anirudh Singh, a student at Delhi University, told AP News that AI has made it easier for students.