Nvidia CEO Cancels India Visit for AI Impact Summit Amid Unforeseen Circumstances

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has cancelled his visit to India for the India AI Impact Summit which is scheduled for next week in New Delhi. Nvidia said on Saturday that its CEO will not attend the summit next week in New Delhi. Huang had been scheduled to speak to the media on February 17 but cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, Reuters reported. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Jensen Huang will not be attending the India AI Impact Summit,” Nvidia’s Indian media agency MSL told journalists, without giving further details. Huang’s absence is notable as he was expected to be one of the summit’s biggest draws. However, the event is still set to bring together leading technology figures, policymakers, and heads of state from around the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the summit, which will run from February 16 to 20. Among those expected to attend are Sundar Pichai of Alphabet, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Dario Amodei of Anthropic, along with ministers and leaders from more than 45 countries. Confirmed world leaders include Emmanuel Macron, Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, Petteri Orpo, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Tshering Tobgay, and Navinchandra Ramgoolam. Representatives from the United Nations and other international bodies will also be present. The summit is structured around three themes — People, Planet, and Progress — and will examine AI’s impact on jobs, the environment, and responsible use. India aims to position the gathering as a platform for practical and ethical discussions on AI. The programme begins on February 16 with the India AI Expo featuring startups and industry leaders. February 17 will host high-level panels and knowledge guide launches. February 18 will focus on research presentations by academics and think tanks. February 19 will feature the formal opening ceremony led by Prime Minister Modi and a CEO roundtable. The final day, February 20, will include meetings of the Global Partnership on AI Council and the adoption of a Leaders’ Declaration on responsible AI. The summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam. Luxury hotels across New Delhi are fully booked, with premium suites commanding rates above $30,000 per night, including top suites at Taj Palace, The Oberoi, and ITC Maurya. A senior official said Nvidia has cancelled Huang’s visit due to unavoidable circumstances but will send a high-level delegation. Nvidia remains a key player in the global AI ecosystem due to its high-performance GPU servers. Even without Huang, the India AI Impact Summit is expected to be one of the most significant AI gatherings this year, with discussions likely to influence global AI policy and governance. US politicians from both parties agree tech companies, not consumers, should pay for the high electricity use of AI data centers, but disagree on solutions. Rising energy costs, legislative efforts, and public backlash are fueling debate over who should bear the financial burden. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.