New Delhi, Feb. 16 -- After months of planning and coordination, the first day of India's big-ticket AI Impact Summit descended into chaos, with a patchy mobile network and a breakdown in organization-leaving participants from around the world disappointed halfway through. However, exhibitors remained hopeful of larger footfall over the next four days, as the presence of Big Tech corporations and some of the world's largest technology enterprises boosted hope of business returns.

Amid security preparations in anticipation of Prime Minister Modi's inauguration of the AI expo, thousands of visitors, exhibitors, foreign delegates and even VIP speakers found themselves stranded without access to basic necessities such as water or stuck in ov...