In yet another reminder of the severe traffic crisis afflicting Delhi, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a light-hearted remark said that artificial intelligence can do many things, but can’t fix the national capital’s traffic.
Addressing the India AI Impact Summit in Bharat Mandapam, Sunak, apologising for running late by a few minutes, said: “Sorry we’re a few minutes late, that’s entirely my fault. AI can do many things, as we’ve heard this week, but it can’t yet fix Delhi’s traffic. So, work to do," Sunak said, drawing laughter from the audience, news agency PTI reported.
Severe traffic congestion and repeated route diversions have turned the daily commute into a harrowing experience for thousands of commuters, with vehicles crawling across several key stretches of the national capital.
Several commuters took to social media to vent their frustration, with some claiming they were stuck for up to four hours due to movement restrictions linked to VIP security arrangements.
“Crazy gridlock of traffic in central Delhi. Stuck for more than an hour. Due to the VVIP movement, our movement gets restricted. Nobody cares for normal people who are working hard every day," one commuter wrote.
VIDEO | At India AI Summit, former UK PM Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) quips, "AI can do many things but can't fix Delhi's traffic."#RishiSunak#Delhitrafficpic.twitter.com/mbM94ZGRkA— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 19, 2026
Others reported frequent rerouting on navigation apps as roads were abruptly closed. Many advised residents to rely on the Delhi Metro instead of private vehicles during the summit period.
In another related incident, an American entrepreneur missed a high-profile dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night due to Delhi traffic. Sara Hooker shared her disappointment on social media
After being trapped in severe traffic in Delhi, the co-founder and CEO of Adaption Labs missed the dinner with PM Modi. Hooker earlier attended sessions at the India AI Impact Summit in Bharat Mandapam.
She returned to her hotel to change from casual jeans into formal clothes for the evening gala. It was meant for select global delegates and industry leaders.
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