Disruptions Undermine India's AI Impact Summit

The AI Impact Summit in India faced setbacks with high-profile cancellations, including Bill Gates, amidst organizational issues. Despite chaos and traffic problems, over $200 billion was pledged for AI infrastructure. Indian PM Modi emphasized children's safety on AI platforms, and rivalry surfaced between AI executives at the event.

In a significant setback, Bill Gates withdrew from India's AI Impact Summit just hours before his keynote address, intensifying the challenges faced by the marred event. The summit, initially heralded as a breakthrough for AI discussions in the Global South, was affected by a series of organizational flaws.

Notably, despite the chaos, the event secured over $200 billion in pledges for AI infrastructure in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the importance of protecting children on AI platforms during his keynote address, sharing the stage with global tech leaders and emphasizing family-guided AI development.

However, the summit faced criticism for poor planning, as traffic disruptions and logistical issues frustrated attendees. Opposition parties castigated the government, with figures like Congress's Pawan Khera and Microsoft researcher Jay Gala expressing their discontent over mismanagement and treatment of AI experts and entrepreneurs.

(With inputs from agencies.)