New Delhi – A significant venue change has been announced for a public exhibition connected to the upcoming AI Impact Summit scheduled in Delhi this February. The Innovation Festival, originally planned for Central Park in Connaught Place, has been relocated to Bharat Mandapam following security and logistical assessments by authorities.
Venue Relocation for AI Impact Summit Exhibition
The AI Impact Summit exhibition, known as the Innovation Festival, was originally scheduled to run from February 15 to 20 at Central Park. However, officials from the Union ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) confirmed Wednesday that security and logistical considerations necessitated the venue change.
A senior official within the IT ministry explained that authorities had been advised to move the AI Impact Summit exhibition to a more manageable venue. “We have been advised on security and logistics considerations to move to a more manageable venue and so much of what was intended will be at the main venue,” the official stated, confirming that festival activities would be partially integrated into the broader summit programming at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan.
The Innovation Festival was conceived as a public engagement space featuring interactive stalls and demonstrations by global AI firms, serving as a key side event for the main AI Impact Summit. MeitY had anticipated significant public footfall at the festival when plans were initially announced.
Police Communication Regarding AI Impact Summit Changes
Delhi Police officers familiar with the matter revealed they were informed during a Wednesday meeting with MeitY officials that events scheduled for Central Park had been moved to Bharat Mandapam. However, an officer who requested anonymity clarified that there was no written or verbal communication from police to the ministry expressing concerns about logistics or crowd control issues.
This statement suggests the decision to relocate the AI Impact Summit exhibition originated from internal assessments rather than specific police recommendations, though security considerations remain a primary factor in the venue change.
Global Significance of AI Impact Summit
The AI Impact Summit represents one of the largest global gatherings focused on artificial intelligence technology. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the event on February 19 and will host a CEOs’ roundtable during the summit. A gala dinner for participating heads of state is planned for February 18.
This AI Impact Summit marks the fourth in a series of global AI meetings, following previous gatherings held in the United Kingdom, South Korea, and France. Officials anticipate over 150,000 in-person attendees and more than 300 side events throughout the summit week, underscoring the event’s massive scale and international importance.
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High-Profile Attendees at AI Impact Summit
More than 100 global CEOs and approximately 15 heads of state have confirmed their participation in the AI Impact Summit so far, according to MeitY officials. The roster of confirmed technology leaders includes Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.
Indian business leaders confirmed for the AI Impact Summit include Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani, Cisco president Jeetu Patel, and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is reportedly “most likely” to attend, while discussions continue with senior executives from Meta and Microsoft.
Political leaders expected at the AI Impact Summit include French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy. Chinese officials have received invitations, though their participation remains unconfirmed.
Pre-Summit Preparations and Modi’s Vision
In preparation for the AI Impact Summit, Prime Minister Modi held a closed-door roundtable earlier this month with a dozen Indian AI startups selected under the India AI Mission to build indigenous, sovereign AI models. According to participants, Modi urged companies to project an “Indian vision” at the summit, emphasizing ethical, transparent, and inclusive AI systems reflecting India’s linguistic and social diversity.
Expected Outcomes from AI Impact Summit
Outcomes from the AI Impact Summit are anticipated to include a possible leadership declaration along with more than a dozen “specific and tangible deliverables” focused on improving access to AI resources, supporting developing countries, and promoting responsible AI adoption globally.
Comprehensive Programming at AI Impact Summit
Beyond main plenary sessions, the AI Impact Summit week will feature extensive parallel events and thematic programmes. These include an AI Impact Expo showcasing AI applications across sectors, plus multiple sessions comprising keynotes, panel discussions, and closed-door roundtables involving global technology leaders, policymakers, and experts.
The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Council is scheduled to meet on February 20 during the final day of the AI Impact Summit, marking a significant multilateral engagement.
Knowledge Products and Global Challenges
The AI Impact Summit will produce several “knowledge products,” including a Global Tech Leaders’ Vision Document, an International AI Safety Report led by AI researcher Yoshua Bengio, and multiple casebooks examining real-world AI impact in sectors such as health, education, agriculture, energy, and gender empowerment.
Three flagship global challenges—AI for All, AI by Her, and YUVAi—are being held as part of the AI Impact Summit, aimed at promoting inclusive innovation, women-led AI development, and youth participation. These challenges have attracted thousands of applications from over 130 countries, including significant participation from the Global South.
Pre-Summit Activities
Leading up to the AI Summit, over 340 pre-summit events have been organized by big tech companies, non-profit organizations, and think tanks in partnership with MeitY, demonstrating the extensive preparation and international collaboration preceding this landmark gathering.
