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A comment by Rishi Sunak, the former British Prime Minister, made at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, on the limitless approach taken by artificial intelligence to addressing common urban problems, was widely shared and humorous. Coming late for his first joint session with UK Deputy PM David Lammy at the British High Commission, Sunak said hastily, "Sorry we are a few minutes late; I am entirely to blame." It is capable of a lot, as we have heard this week, but it cannot fix the traffic in Delhi yet. So, work to do."

Rishi Sunak, the former British Prime Minister, made the comment. What made the comment funny is that it was said during the summit that was being attended in Bharat Mandapam between February 16 and 20, and it easily became viral on social media. It was an ideal depiction of irony when the world leaders arrived at a summit to talk about the potential of AI, regarded as a revolution in healthcare, education, and innovation, and India saw gridlock in Juhad abetted by VIP security measures, roadblocks, and high traffic jams keeping people who were heading to and leaving the summit stuck for hours.

The joke by Sunak highlighted a more substantial issue, i.e., even with AI applications like predictive congestion modeling, smart traffic lights, and real-time analytics implemented in some areas in Delhi, solutions are overwhelmed by other factors like poor transport infrastructure, fast urban sprawl, lack of enforcement, and cultural adherence to personal vehicles. The summit itself was criticized as having been mismanaged in traffic, where people were reported to have walked kilometers after being unable to get on the metro and an hour-long jam on major highways.

His comedy act was more of a reminder that technology cannot substitute holistic city planning, behavioral modifications, and infrastructure enhancements. Now that India is becoming an AI superpower, the off-the-record statement by Sunak doubled up both as a joke and a hint at realistic and tangible development in the solution of the thorny challenges of everyday Mumbai life, such as the daily traffic jams in Delhi.