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NVIDIA has confirmed that its CEO missed a major AI Summit after falling ill following weeks of travel, addressing speculation around his absence. The Managing Director for NVIDIA South Asia, Vishal Dhupar, provided the clarification and has deputed Jay Puri to lead the company delegation at the event.
Amid questions about CEO Jensen Huang's absence from the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the representatives clarified that he is unwell due to a tight schedule. NVIDIA South Asia’s MD, Vishal Dhupar, while attending the summit, said, "Aren't we all missing Jensen? Everywhere I am going, everyone is asking (about) Jensen."
Dhupar replied to a question on Huang cancelling his visit to India just ahead of the Summit, saying, "Jensen has travelled for three straight weeks, he caught a bug, he is under the weather".
He further added, "We hope he is well soon, but we are delighted that we have Jay Puri leading a delegation to come here to India and celebrate this very important week where the India AI impact summit will demonstrate the power of India."
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) said that NVIDIA’s CEO conveyed his inability to attend for unavoidable reasons and had deputed a senior executive to represent the company.
"Regarding some people not attending, this is a personal choice. I would not like to comment on it. Jensen Huang reached out to us, and he said that because of something really unavoidable... he has deputed his very senior executive to join us," Vaishnaw said during a briefing at the India AI Summit on Tuesday.
The minister said NVIDIA is also working with Indian companies "for some very large investments in AI infrastructure. They are also working with some software companies for developing many use cases."
The India AI Impact Summit, one of the country's largest global gatherings on artificial intelligence, has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and technology experts to discuss AI innovation, governance, and real-world applications in New Delhi.
Huang was among the most prominent global technology leaders expected at the India AI Impact Summit. In the days leading up to the Summit, there was significant buzz around his participation at the mega event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the AI Impact Summit 2026 as proof of India’s technological progress. The summit brings together firms, startups, state governments, and research institutions. This diverse gathering also helps foster business opportunities with an overview of the global AI ecosystem.
