AI Impact Summit 2026 Kicks Off with Overwhelming Crowds in New Delhi
The inaugural day of the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi witnessed an unexpectedly massive turnout, resulting in significant entry delays and long queues throughout the sprawling venue. Visitors planning to attend the summit in the coming days are advised to allocate additional time for security procedures and movement within the complex.
Heavy Traffic and Security Bottlenecks
Heavy vehicular traffic around the Bharat Mandapam complex combined with the high volume of attendees created extensive queues that began forming early Monday morning. A diverse cross-section of participants, including school students, college attendees, software developers, and startup founders, converged on the venue to experience the AI Impact Expo. The expo was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister later in the evening.
Security checks, particularly for individuals carrying laptop bags and personal belongings, became a major bottleneck. During peak hours, these checks extended up to 45 minutes, causing pronounced delays for registered delegates, exhibitors, and officials trying to access summit halls and exhibition zones. Volunteers were frequently observed instructing attendees to have their laptops and electronic devices ready for scanning to expedite the security process.
DigiYatra System and Human Intervention
The dedicated AI-powered entry channel, the DigiYatra system, functioned largely as designed, processing thousands of participants using facial recognition and QR code scanning technology. However, the sheer scale of footfall occasionally caused the system to slow down or stall momentarily, leading to brief backups at various entry points.
To mitigate these delays, volunteers equipped with handheld scanners intervened manually to verify delegates and maintain queue movement. In a lighthearted moment that captured the event's ethos, one volunteer humorously remarked, "AI bhi thoda sochta hai" (Even AI thinks a little), as she waved a delegate through, eliciting smiles from those waiting in line. This incident highlighted the summit's blend of advanced technology supported by swift human decision-making.
Diverse Attendee Objectives and Future Expectations
Attendees arrived with varied goals. Business professionals explored potential partnerships and strategies for deploying artificial intelligence within their operations, while students sought affordable options for cloud computing services and other AI-related resources.
The crowd size is anticipated to increase significantly starting Tuesday, with over 1.5 lakh registered participants expected for the mega event. The summit will host leading global AI companies and more than 20 heads of state, further amplifying its scale and significance.
Key Points from Day One:
- Unexpectedly high attendance led to long queues and entry delays.
- Security checks for bags and devices took up to 45 minutes during peak times.
- The DigiYatra AI entry system worked well but faced slowdowns due to volume.
- Volunteers used manual scanners to keep queues moving efficiently.
- The event showcases a mix of cutting-edge AI and practical human oversight.
- Over 150,000 registered attendees and numerous international dignitaries are expected in the coming days.
