His remarks come amid controversy involving Galgotias University, whose exhibition stall was sealed after a viral video appeared to show staff presenting foreign-made technology as their own. The incident triggered criticism from opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, who called the summit a “disorganised PR spectacle” and alleged mismanagement.
Tharoor, however, emphasised the summit’s international participation, noting that heads of state, government representatives and industry leaders attended with a shared goal of advancing artificial intelligence for global development. He said such engagement demonstrated India’s growing influence in shaping emerging technology policy and cooperation. “The early days have gone very well overall,” he said, adding that isolated setbacks are inevitable when hosting events of this scale.
The controversy centres on allegations that the university displayed a robotic dog produced by Unitree and a foreign-made drone without clear attribution. After the footage spread online, organisers disconnected electricity to the institution’s pavilion and later sealed it. In a statement, the university clarified it never claimed to have manufactured the robot and said it was being used purely for student learning and experimentation.
Political reactions have sharpened divisions. Congress leaders accused the government of harming India’s global reputation, claiming foreign media mocked the episode. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was also criticised by opposition figures for allegedly promoting the technology. The government has not publicly responded to those specific allegations.
The summit, inaugurated on February 16 by Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam, runs until February 20 and features exhibitions from global firms, startups and research institutions. Technology companies, including Microsoft, have announced major investment plans tied to India’s AI sector during the event.
Tharoor also used the interaction to comment on wider issues, reiterating support for strengthening India’s defence capability and criticising the film The Kerala Story as misleading. He argued that isolated incidents should not be amplified into sweeping claims about society.
With the summit still underway, attention is likely to remain fixed on both its policy outcomes and the political sparring it has sparked. Analysts say the event’s long-term impact will depend less on short-term controversies and more on whether it yields concrete partnerships, investment commitments and regulatory frameworks for India’s fast-growing AI ecosystem.
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