I arrived at the India AI Impact Summit expecting to hear groundbreaking ideas from some of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence — Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, Demis Hassabis, Yann LeCun, and Brad Smith — yet by the end of the day, what stayed with me most was not the technology they discussed but the distinctly human experience surrounding it. The conversations about artificial intelligence were important, but the atmosphere, the contrasts, and the small unscripted moments made the day memorable in an entirely different way.
Even before entering the venue at Bharat Mandapam, the tone of the summit was shaped by scenes that felt far removed from futuristic innovation. Outside the gates, confusion over access and long queues created visible frustration among attendees. Security barricades slowed movement, and uncertainty spread through the crowd as people tried to understand where to go and how to enter. At one point, amid the disorder, a few voices began chanting “Inquilab Zindabad!” — a slogan that seemed oddly misplaced at an AI conference yet perfectly captured the shared impatience of the moment. The irony was striking: while the world’s leading technologists had gathered to discuss intelligent machines, people outside were relying on the oldest human responses — raised voices, collective emotion, and shared confusion.
Crossing into the venue brought an immediate shift in energy. Inside, the environment was unexpectedly calm. Despite hosting some of the most prominent names in global AI, the halls appeared quieter than anticipated, with noticeable gaps across several seating sections. The emptiness was not due to lack of interest but largely because many delegates were still outside navigating entry delays. As a result, some of the most significant discussions about the future of artificial intelligence unfolded in auditoriums that felt almost serene.
The pace inside Bharat Mandapam felt measured rather than chaotic. Leaders walked through corridors without excessive commotion, pausing for conversations and moving through the space with a sense of ease. The atmosphere carried seriousness without stiffness, allowing interactions to feel natural rather than staged. One small moment captured this perfectly: my son approached Brad Smith to ask where Sam Altman’s session would be held. Smith stopped, listened attentively, and calmly guided him in the right direction. There was no rush, no entourage interference, and no display of hierarchy — just a polite exchange in the middle of a global summit. It was a brief interaction, yet it reflected the understated tone of the event more clearly than any formal speech.
On stage, the discussions echoed that same sense of balance. Speakers avoided dramatic predictions and instead focused on measured, practical conversations about responsibility and long-term impact. Altman spoke about AI’s transformative potential while noting that societies have historically adapted to technological change, including shifts in employment. Amodei addressed both opportunities and risks associated with increasingly powerful AI systems, emphasising the importance of careful scaling. Hassabis highlighted the need for responsible innovation as capabilities advance rapidly, while LeCun maintained a research-focused perspective, steering the conversation away from alarmism and toward sustained scientific progress.
Some of the most memorable moments came from unscripted details rather than keynote statements. At one point, Altman briefly walked toward the wrong side of the stage before quickly correcting himself, a small but endearing reminder that even the most influential figures in technology remain human. Equally striking was seeing LeCun seated quietly among attendees before being called to speak, without spectacle or fanfare. These moments subtly reinforced the grounded character of the summit.
India hosting such a gathering carried broader significance as well. Bringing together leading AI voices under one roof underscored the country’s growing importance in global technology discussions. The summit felt less like a routine conference and more like a signal that conversations shaping the future of artificial intelligence are increasingly global and inclusive of emerging technology hubs.
Yet the contrast between outside and inside lingered throughout the day. While global discussions on AI governance and innovation unfolded calmly indoors, many participants were still dealing with logistical confusion outside. Empty seats inside silently reflected the organisational gaps that prevented some attendees from fully participating. The experience never felt purely futuristic; instead, it felt unmistakably human — impressive in ambition, imperfect in execution, and rich in small, authentic moments.
In the end, the summit left a lasting impression not because of grand declarations about artificial intelligence but because of its contradictions. It was human in its brilliance, as world leaders in AI gathered for thoughtful dialogue. It was human in its flaws, as coordination challenges shaped the experience on the ground. And it was human in its irony, because amid conversations about intelligent machines, what stood out most were gestures, conversations, confusion, and quiet attentiveness — reminders that even at the centre of technological transformation, it is people who define how history feels when lived in real time.
