Techies spot ex-Meta chief AI scientist at Impact Summit. ‘No one here in India recognised him’

Yann LeCun, one of the most influential figures in modern AI research, had recently been in global news for leaving Meta to start a new AI research company. (Image credit: @86pushkar24, @Aakash_jais03/X)

A Delhi‑based coder has gone viral on X after he spotted Yann LeCun, who was Meta’s chief AI scientist until January, at the India AI Impact Summit in the national capital and shared a picture. The techie, identified only as Pushkar, wrote that he saw LeCun going through “all the security checks like a normie,” adding that it was surprising that “no one here in India recognises him at our so‑called great Global AI Impact Summit.”

His post quickly went viral, with thousands reacting to the contrast between LeCun’s global stature and the low‑key nature of his arrival at the venue.

Look who I spotted at the AI Impact Summit today in Delhi...!!

It's @ylecun – Meta's Chief AI Scientist. But what's wrong here is that even he's going through all the security checks like a normieee...!! I believe this guy has done enough for humanity to deserve a direct… pic.twitter.com/3005cWphFz — Pushkar (@86pushkar24) February 18, 2026

As the post spread, several users asked Pushkar whether he spoke to LeCun. Pushkar clarified that the image he posted was taken at “5x zoom” on his phone and that LeCun was too far away amid the crowd for any interaction.

Another attendee at the summit wrote that he was “lucky enough to get to meet him and get an autograph".

Lucky enough to get to meet him and get an autograph.... pic.twitter.com/us0uL2snug — Aakash (@Aakash_jais03) February 18, 2026

Hours later, LeCun shared selfies clicked the summit with "enthusiastic participants" on LinkedIn.

Debate over VIP treatment at Indian events

Pushkar’s comment that LeCun “deserved direct entry” sparked a debate on how global tech leaders should be treated at such events. Some argued India fails to recognise world‑renowned scientists, while others insisted that uniform security is standard at major summits worldwide.

One X user noted: “We in India are used to seeing VIP babus skip lines easily, so this feels unfair or poorly organised.”

Another countered: “So you’re telling that people shouldn’t go through security for a large-scale event like this? Irrespective of anything, everyone has to go through checks as it should be.”

Why LeCun’s presence at AI Impact Summit drew attention

LeCun, one of the most influential figures in modern AI research, had recently been in global news for planning to leave Meta to start a new AI research company. Although there has been no official announcement, LeCun mentioned in his LinkedIn bio that January was his last month at the tech giant. His presence at the Delhi summit — India’s most high‑profile AI gathering of 2026 — naturally drew interest from the tech community.

With global CEOs, policymakers and researchers attending, the event has been positioned as a major platform for AI partnerships and knowledge exchange. The five‑day summit is set to feature over 500 events and participation from global industry leaders.